Spartanburg High School (SHS) students joined thousands of future health professionals at the South Carolina Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference held from March 11-13 at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston. The event brought together 2,381 attendees representing 103 HOSA chapters from across the state, creating one of the largest gatherings of aspiring health care leaders in South Carolina.
HOSA is a global student‑led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and more federal and state agencies. Its mission is to empower future health professionals through education, collaboration and hands‑on experience. Rather than a traditional club, HOSA functions as an instructional tool that strengthens health science education when integrated into the classroom. Students elect officers, conduct meetings and plan activities as they prepare for careers in the medical field.
Adviser Donna Howell emphasized the importance of the organization for SHS students.
“HOSA is the Health Occupations Students of America, which is the professional club for health sciences. It is important to our students and the health science program as a whole because it teaches the students about professionalism: how to dress, how to act, how to interact, etc.,” Howell said. “It benefits the students academically because they learn about a topic of interest as they prepare for their chosen competitive event, which reinforces state Health Science standards. It benefits them professionally because they network with thousands of other HOSA students throughout the whole state of South Carolina.”
This year, 22 SHS students from Howell and Rebecca Gentry’s Health Science program competed in a wide range of events. Their areas of competition reflected the diversity of the health care field, including Medical Terminology, Medical Assisting, Nursing Assisting, Forensics, Mental Health Promotion, Nutrition, Prepared Speaking and Researched Persuasive Writing and Speaking. Students also entered additional written and skills‑based events, demonstrating the depth of talent within the program.
Greer Elliott (9) competed in the Mental Health Promotion event and shared her motivation for joining the organization.
“I joined HOSA and chose to compete because I want to go into the medical field in college, and going to a competitive event would make me determined to do my best on the project. HOSA has provided more information about different health professions. HOSA has allowed me to get more opportunities for shadowing or clinics I can do, as well,” Elliott said.
The State Leadership Conference is designed to challenge students academically and professionally. Many events require participants to complete written exams in health science subjects before arriving at the conference. High‑scoring students then advance to a second round of competition held on site. Other events take place entirely during the conference, allowing students to demonstrate technical skills, communication abilities and leadership qualities in real time. The experience serves as a pathway for students interested in becoming nurses, physicians, therapists, technicians and other similar health professionals.
Jaycie Martinez (12) described how HOSA has shaped her goals.
“Pursuing a career in nursing has always been my goal, which inspired my decision to join HOSA. I participated in the Nursing Assisting competition, dedicating countless hours to studying and using Quizlet flashcards to prepare for the event,” Martinez said.
Martinez also served as part of the HOSA courtesy corps, assisting with behind‑the‑scenes conference operations and gaining valuable experience.
One of SHS’s featured entries this year was the Public Service Announcement (PSA) team event. HOSA’s PSA competition invites teams of two to six students to create a thirty‑second video that raises awareness about a selected health topic. Students are responsible for researching the issue, writing and producing the video, editing the final product and presenting it to judges. The goal is to educate the community while demonstrating creativity and effective communication.
The 2026 PSA theme was “Brain Health,” a topic that encouraged students to explore the importance of mental and neurological well‑being. The SHS PSA team included Evelynn Diaz (11), Leilani Martinez (11), Micayla Nunley (11), Sherley Escalante (11) and Lizbeth Ortiz (11). These students dedicated time to researching the topic, planning their message and producing a video designed to inform and inspire their audience.
Beyond the PSA event, Spartanburg High School students excelled across multiple competitive categories. Levi Lazenby (12) earned second place in Environmental Health, showcasing strong knowledge of public health and environmental safety. Additionally, Ava Hrysikos (12) competed in the HOSA Bowl and placed fifth in Anatomy and Physiology. Their accomplishments highlight the strength of the school’s health science curriculum and the commitment of students who are preparing for future careers in medicine.
Ava Hrysikos (12) shared her experience balancing competition with senior‑year responsibilities.
“I want to be a pediatric surgeon, and HOSA bowl covers a variety of different health care topics to learn from, so I thought it would be a good idea to try it out,” Hrysikos said. “HOSA has helped me build my knowledge on healthcare aspects and set me up with connections to help gain experience in the healthcare field and helped me realize how much I truly admire all healthcare professions.”
The conference also provided opportunities for leadership development and technical skill training. Students attended workshops, networked with peers from across the state and learned from health care professionals. For many participants, the experience offered a clearer understanding of the pathways available in the medical field and the skills required to succeed.
Mallori McCoy (11) competed in Medical Terminology and prepared using flashcards and notes from her previous coursework and looked forward to meeting competitors from across the state.
“I joined HOSA because I would like to go into healthcare one day. I have enjoyed taking the health science classes offered by the school and wanted to continue to learn more about healthcare,” McCoy said.
SHS’s participation in nearly 20 competitive events reflects the dedication of both students and teachers. The program continues to grow each year, encouraging students to explore their interests, challenge themselves academically and develop the confidence needed to pursue health care careers. As the students returned from Charleston, they brought with them not only awards and recognition but also a renewed sense of purpose as future leaders in the health community.
