WEST POINT, Neb. – Thirteen students who participate in the Pathways to Tomorrow (P2T) education consortium are preparing to do some traveling this summer. They have qualified for the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) International Leadership Conference to be held in Nashville, Tenn.
HOSA is a global student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services and several federal and state agencies. HOSA’s mission is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. HOSA actively promotes career opportunities in the health industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.
“Students who attend the P2T Science Academy at Northeast Community College’s Donald E. Nielsen Career and Technical Training Center in West Point competed in the HOSA Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference at the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Mammel Hall,” said Gina Holtz, executive director of P2T and director of Northeast’s extended campus in West Point.
“Over 300 high school students from all over the state competed in various health-related events that are designed to motivate students to improve their knowledge and skills. We are proud of their accomplishments as they showcased their knowledge in this state competition.”
The contest was sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Methodist College, Metropolitan Community College, Clarkson College, Nebraska Hospital Association, and Nebraska Health Care Foundation.
State champions and national qualifiers include:
Biomedical Debate (Team) – 1st (Kennedi Cooper, Bancroft-Rosalie, Ella Bridges, Bancroft-Rosalie, Erin Jensen, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, and Blair Fiala, Howells-Dodge.
Clinical Specialty – 1st Erica Engelmeyer, Guardian Angels Central Catholic.
Dental Science – 1st Payton Nolting, Bancroft-Rosalie.
Home Health Care – 1st Faith Hendrickson, Oakland-Craig.
Pharmacy Science – 1st Tori Buss, Guardian Angeles Central Catholic.
Health Care Issues – 1st Makenna Buss, Oakland-Craig.
Other P2T qualifiers for the national conference in Nashville include:
Cultural Diversities & Disparities in Healthcare – 2nd Ella Bridges, Bancroft-Rosalie.
EMT (Team) – 2nd Riley Heller, West Point-Beemer, and Kennady Schmidt, Howells-Dodge.
Epidemiology – 2nd Makenna Buss, Oakland-Craig.
Health Care Issues – 2nd Blair Fiala, Howells-Dodge.
Pharmacology – 2nd Tori Buss, Guardian Angels Central Catholic.
Home Health Care – 3rd Hailey Hunzeker, Guardian Angels Central Catholic.
Medical Reading – 3rd Sadie Nelson, Oakland-Craig.
Sponsors and instructors of the students are Dale Mundil and Daniel Bridges.
The group has received a financial contribution to attend the conference June 22-25. The Board of Directors of the Donald E. Nielsen Foundation is a providing $16,300 to cover the expenses and fees for the students and their sponsors.
Now in its sixth year, the P2T consortium has offered career and technical education (CTE) classes. This is the second year that classes have been held at the Northeast Community College extended campus in West Point. High school students have the option to enroll within five career pathways: building construction, computer sciences, education, health sciences, and welding. Students may also enroll in classes to earn their Commercial Driving License (CDL). All the programs offered through P2T are aligned to ensure transferability to all Nebraska public post-secondary institutions.
P2T, facilitated through Educational Service Unit (ESU) #2, includes seven-member schools: Bancroft-Rosalie, Emerson-Hubbard, Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point), Howells-Dodge, Lyons Decatur Northeast, Oakland-Craig, and West Point-Beemer.
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PHOTO CUTLINE
Several students who participate in the Pathways to Tomorrow (P2T) education consortium have qualified for the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) International Leadership Conference to be held later this month in Nashville, Tenn. Pictured is the entire P2T Team and sponsors. They include (front row, from left) Hailey Hunzeker, Guardian Angels Central Catholic; LaShel Pashby, West Point Beemer; Makenna Buss, Oakland Craig; and Ella Bridges, Bancroft-Rosalie. Second Row (from left) Brianna Bousquet, Emerson-Hubbard; Makenna King, Bancroft- Rosalie; Tori Buss, Guardian Angles Central Catholic; Blair Fiala, Howells-Dodge; Erin Jensen, Guardian Angels Central Catholic; Ashlynn Cropp, West Point-Beemer; and Jordan Hoffman, West Point-Beemer. Third row (from left) Dale Mundil, Pathways to Tomorrow (P2T) health sciences instructor/HOSA sponsor, Faith Hendrickson, Oakland-Craig; Nessa Krupka, Howells-Dodge; Kennedi Cooper, Bancroft-Rosalie; Sadie Nelson, Oakland-Craig; Kennady Schmidt, Howells-Dodge; Riley Heller, West Point-Beemer; Erica Engelmeyer, Guardian Angels Central Catholic; Jessa Anderson, Bancroft-Rosalie; Payton Nolting, Bancroft-Rosalie; and Daniel Bridges, P2T health sciences instructor/HOSA sponsor. (Courtesy Photo)