The 2024 HOSA: Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference (ILC) took place from June 26-29, in Houston, Texas. This prestigious event drew over 12,000 students aspiring for careers in health care from around the globe. Nearly 200 dedicated students represented the state of Kansas, and they came prepared to excel!

Celebrating Achievements 

Hall of Fame Induction: 

Virgil Guo from Newton High School was inducted into the HOSA Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to the HOSA community. Virgil's creation of the statewide recognition program, HOSA STARS, earned him this prestigious honor.

Scholarship Recipients:

Out of 3,600 applicants, four Kansas students received scholarships from national HOSA partners, a testament to their hard work and dedication.

• Emily Kanthavong, Winfield High School, received a $1,000 scholarship from CVS Health

• Adrianna Purkeypyle, Herington High School, received a $1,000 scholarship from Philip R. Patton HCA Healthcare

• Abby Merida and Teagan Smith, both from Northeast High School in Arma, received $1,000 scholarships from Mrs. Joan Stearman and the late Dr. William Stearman

Those students were invited to a VIP Scholarship Dinner at ILC where they were able to have dinner with their scholarship sponsor, giving them the opportunity to say thanks and share information about themselves, their school and their future career aspirations.  

Membership Growth:

Kansas HOSA was recognized for a significant membership growth of 21% during the 2023-24 year, showcasing the increasing interest and engagement in health professions among Kansas students.

Outstanding Performances: 

• • The Manhattan High School Anatomage team placed in the top 8 among more than 200 teams.
  • Round 2 Qualifiers:
  • • Lily Wang, Tasneem Fatimah – Blue Valley West High School – Health Career Display
    • Kenlie Delay – Abilene High School – Clinical Nursing
    • Maddie Murnahan – Abilene High School – Respiratory Therapy
    • Maricar Harris, our Outstanding Advisor, and Emma Eckstein, our Outstanding HOSA Leader, were recognized on stage for their invaluable contributions. Emma also had the honor of presenting the Kansas flag during the opening ceremony.
    • The Blue Valley West team won the Emotional Well Being Challenge, securing a $1500 scholarship.
    • Mayank Shrestha placed in the top ten in the National Geographic Academic Testing Center AAFP Family Medicine Careers Test.
    • The Great Bend High School Team of Eliana Teri, Cailyn Murphy, and Cara Murphy placed in the top ten in Medical Innovation.

• All four students from Barton County Community College who attended HOSA ILC made it to the stage for each of their events:
  • Clinical Laboratory Science, post-secondary collegiate – Brianna Auker, top 10
  • Medical Assisting, post-secondary collegiate – Kaden Baird, 3rd place
  • Nursing Assisting, post-secondary collegiate – Hannah Dapogny, top 10
  • Phlebotomy, post-secondary collegiate – Valeria Gallardo, 1st place

Exciting Highlights 

The event was book-ended with thrilling "Science Raves," adding to the excitement of the week. Lighted fans, hats and signs filled the massive ballroom while thousands of attendees cheered each other on. Celebrity Seth Rogen even made an appearance via Zoom to promote an Alzheimer’s documentary he's working on, adding a touch of Hollywood to the conference.

A huge expo with 160+ vendors allowed attendees to experience cutting-edge technology, network with representatives of higher education and compete in an anatomy tournament (Anatomage). Therapy dogs and “Go Baby Go” toddler cars for children with disabilities also provided a unique opportunity for student experiences.

All attendees had access to 145 workshops covering topics like lesson ideas for teachers, hands-on activities in subjects like phlebotomy and suturing, career exploration opportunities and more.

Additionally, students participated in a cherished tradition of trading pins representing their locations with attendees from around the world. This tradition, aiming to collect pins from every attending location, served as an international icebreaker, facilitating networking among fellow attendees.

Kansas HOSA's performance at the ILC in Houston was nothing short of stellar. We are incredibly proud of our students' achievements and look forward to seeing their continued success in the health professions!

About HOSA

HOSA is a global student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services and several federal and state agencies. HOSA aims to develop students into leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and hands-on experience. The Kansas HOSA charter is proudly held by the KU Medical Center Area Health Education Center, led by State Advisor Tina Goosz-Garetson.

Learn more about Kansas HOSA