Twenty-one East St. John High School students attended the HOSA Louisiana State Conference in March in Pineville. More than half of the students attending placed first, second and/or third in various competitions. The competitions included nursing assistant, physical therapy, home health aide, nutrition, concepts of healthcare, forensic medicine and extemporaneous health poster. Nine of the 12 students have qualified to compete at the HOSA National Conference in Anaheim, Cali., in June.

The purpose of the HOSA State Convention is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult and collegiate students enrolled in nursing programs.

The following students placed in the Health Occupation Students of America State Conference held in Pineville:

Terynek Grover — First place in human growth and development

Jasmine Varmall — Second place in human growth and development

Chelsea Bates — Second place in concepts of healthcare

Marco Barrera — Second place in extemporaneous health poster and qualified for nationals

Bianca Cook — Third place in extemporaneous health poster and qualified for nationals

Chelsea Bates — First place in nutrition

Keidra Opperhammer — Second place in forensic medicine and qualified for nationals

Sanavia Windfield — Second place in forensic medicine and qualified for nationals

Terrence Simmons — First place in clinical nursing and nursing assistant, qualified for nationals in both categories

Tae’Lair Clark — First place in home health aide and second place in nursing assistant, qualified for nationals

Ayanna Hall — Third place in nursing assistant and qualified for nationals

Brianna Pierre — Fourth place in nursing assistant and qualified for nationals

Pasty Palmer — First place in physical therapy

Jasmine Varmall — Second place in human growth and development

“The Nursing Program at ESJH is making a large impact on these students’ futures. Because most of the nursing courses are dual enrollment, these students are earning college credit for pre-requisite courses,” said ESJH principal Patricia Triche. “Their classes and clinical experiences are truly embedding the students into the job of a nursing assistant. These real-world experiences have not only helped them to excel at the state competition, but they have also given the students the capability to either enter the work force as a Certified Nursing Assistant or enter college having already earned multiple college credits. I’m very proud of both the teachers and students in the program for making ESJH’s Nursing Program top-notch.”