UH Hilo students compete in HOSA virtual international leadership conference

Students from theUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Hilo turned in a strong performance at the 44th Annual HOSA – Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference held virtually June 23-26, 2021.

Junior Jaclyn Tennett was UH Hilo’s top performer, earning 3rd Place in Clinical Specialty for her presentation/career portfolio of an Emergency Medicine Physician and skill video of a wound closure via suture.

Senior Travis Makana Taylor placed 4th and freshman Jennifer Nakano placed 5th for their speech and paper on “Technology Use: Does It Make Us More or Less Connected?” in the Persuasive Writing and Speaking category.

Sophomore Zyrill Dayne Dela Cruz finished in 4th Place in Medical Math and freshman Sophia Shea took 5th Place in Epidemiology.

Sophomore Kit Neikirk in Biology and Taylor in Leadership finished 10th in the National Geographic Learning Academic Testing Center events.

Senior Daniel Kimura served as the Hawaiʻi HOSA’s Postsecondary/Collegiate Voting Delegate who participated in the election of the 2021-2022 International HOSA Executive Council.

Taylor, who served as Chapter President/State Postsecondary VP, was one of 74 HOSA members who earned a $1,000 HOSA Scholarship at VILC from sponsor University of Phoenix, and was also honored during the VILC Opening General Session.

Dr. Jarred Prudencio, Faculty Chapter Advisor from the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, was honored as Hawaiʻi HOSA’s postsecondary recipient of the Outstanding Local Advisor Award.

Over 9,000 delegates attended the virtual conference, including HOSA’s international chapters from American Samoa, Canada, China, and Korea.

Competition resumes in November/December 2021 with the Hawaiʻi Island HOSA Regional Conference.