HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), unites the nation’s future healthcare workers and offers many exciting and thrilling opportunities for students.
To further explain, HOSA is an organization that not only includes Alton High School, but expands further internationally. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as well as the Department of Health and Human Resources.
While there is a $20 fee, just talk to President Katie Krafka. “Everyone is welcomed,” President Katie Krafka said. “HOSA makes kids interested in a pre-med track.”
Although, when Alton High School’s HOSA program was first established, it had a rocky start as it was the first of its kind in Alton High School history. Throughout the years it has gained momentum and a better footing than when it first started.
“My first year starting HOSA was a whirlwind, she [Krafka] came in and wanted to start it,” Sponsor Kelly Paige said. “I was like, ‘Okay, let’s start it!’ while not realizing there was a lot more to it than just having people after school.”
Furthermore, a good portion of HOSA is its competitions against other schools. Alton High School’s HOSA competed against schools from all over the state of Illinois to possibly other states, even making it all the way to internationals last year.
“This year, it’s gonna be a lot bigger than last year,” Krafka said. “Let me say, we’re gonna take a ton of kids to competitions, we’re gonna win a bunch of stuff, we’re gonna show up to a bunch of Chicago schools that were beating us last year.”
Moreover, outside of HOSA’s competitiveness, they do regular club related activities as well. These activities could include fundraisers to help support their organization or donation drives for hospitals and patients.
“Right now we are doing a donation drive to collect items for patients that are in hospitals to keep them busy and from getting bored,” Paige said. “We’re collecting games, coloring books, books, and a bunch of things.”
“We have guest speakers come in, meetings, etc.,” Krafka said.
“We practiced things during meetings like taking vitals, manual blood pressures, we’ve had the blood arms out, and we got CPR certified,” Paige said.
With that, Alton High School’s HOSA club will continue to strive and win their competitions. America’s future care is in the hands of these hardworking students.
