Audio clip
Arlette Robinson
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — High school junior Neva Lemoine set her sights on a medical career when she was 4. When she moved from Nevada to Bradley County last year, she found that a health-related student organization helped her get involved at Walker Valley High School.
“When I first heard about HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) I wanted to join,” said Miss Lemoine, 17. “I have met a lot of people here, and a lot of professionals come in and talk to us. The competitions are so cool and it looks good on your transcripts.”
She was one of eight students from Walker Valley High School and 24 from Bradley Central High School who took part in HOSA regional competitions at Roane State University in January. Students from both schools will go on to the state competition this month in Chattanooga.
HOSA offers many opportunities to learn.
“It gives students contacts in the field and gives them a chance to see if this is the field they want to be in,” said Lorie Harris, a registered nurse who has taught health science courses at Walker Valley for five years.
Competitions allow students to hone their skills and learn leadership and teamwork.
“They learn a lot of the soft skills that employers want them to have but that are not necessarily hard-wired into the curriculum,” said Arlette Robinson, director of Bradley County’s career and technical education department.
Walker Valley sophomore Savannah Womac, 15, is getting ready for the state competition. She won second place in region competition in the community emergency response team.
She has an advantage: Her dad is Kevin Womac, a LifeForce helicopter pilot; her mother is with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Bradley Central health science teachers Cindy Leslie and Jennifer Rollins are former HOSA members at the school. The registered nurses worked in the field before returning to teach.
HOSA winners:
Bradley Central High School
First place award
Public service announcements
* Amanda Reagan
* Megan Crisp
* Jessica Duckett
* Lynette Fowler, biomedial technology
* Kim Smith, clinical specialty
* Rachel Brown, home health aide
* Allie Marquez, nursing assisting
* Scarlett Buff, chapter newsletter
* Courtney Carter, administrative medical assisting
* Brittany Bacon, physical therapy aide
Second place winners
* Ellice Soto, outstanding HOSA chapter
* Kohl Kierstead, pathophysiology
* cqJhovana Cruz, sports medicine
Biomedical debate
* Bethany Christensen
* Brittany Perez
* Zach Helms
* Lauren Gaylor,
Health education
* Sara Torbett
* Jennifer Tenpenney
* Kevin Godfrey
Third place winners
CPR/First aid
* Micah Trew
* Corey Thatch
Forensic medicine
* Ashlyn Mason
* Jennifer Cross
Community emergency response team
* Tanner Tilley
* Matt Wilkins
* Hannah Ownby, job-seeking skills
National recognition portfolios
* Leah Banks
* Rachel Brown
* Scarlett Buff
* Courtney Carter
* Jhovana Cruz
* Kohl Kierstead
* Allie Marquez
* Kim Smith
* Elice Soto
* Micah Trew.
Walker Valley High School
Second place awards
* Tabitha Land, nursing assistant
Career health display
* Paige Womac
* Haley Jones
* Kendall McGee, dental terminology
Community emergency response
* Savannah Womac
* cqKameryn Jones
Third place winners
Emergency Medical Technology
* Chasity Cadwallader
* Tanner Ramsey
Source: Bradley County
