MANATEE-- In a wonderful week of winnings, the Manatee Technical Institute has once again received national recognition for student involvement in competitions. Following MTI's triumph at the 46 Annual SkillsUSA National Championships, 23 local postsecondary state champions participated in the 2010 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference and also received many awards.
![]() |
|
(see below for details) |
Ten of the MTI East Campus students earned first, second, or third place national postsecondary medals at the conference held in Orlando, June 22 through 26, at Disney's Coronado Springs Conference Center. Eight more were recognized as among the top ten in the nation.
This years conference was the largest HOSA NLC on record with approximately 7,000 in attendance. Each of the students competed in various health-related or leadership events to showcase their skills and talents developed during their health-career preparation programs at MTI.
MTI HOSA Chapter Advisor Kim Bland stated that, "While the members were there to compete with hopes of winning a medal, all came away realizing that it is the process rather than the final result that is the most important and most respected part of the experience."
HOSA is a national student organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in health care and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.
The local MTI HOSA NLC medal winners:
Gold Medal: Heather Allen, Medical Reading (Surgical Technology Program)
Gold Medal: Tiffany Gardner, Medical Reading (Surgical Technology Program)
Gold Medal: Angela Pierce, Medical Reading (Surgical Technology Program)
Silver Medal: Lindsay Willey, Dental Assisting (Dental Assisting Program)
Silver Medal: Ashleigh Franklin, Dental Spelling (Dental Assisting Program)
Silver Medal: Kellie Kilppel, Dental Terminology (Dental Assisting Program)
Silver Medal: Harley Kroll, Creative Problem Solving (Massage Therapy Program)
Silver Medal: Darius Maboudi, Creative Problem Solving (Massage Therapy Program)
Silver Medal: Jonathan Robinson, Creative Problem Solving (Paramedic Program)
Bronze Medal: Rachel Flenniken, Dental Spelling (Dental Assisting Program)
PHOTO: MTI Health Occupations Students competing at national HOSA competition (standing L to R): Courtney Cournan, Rachel Flenniken, Marly Arias, Lindsay Willey, Michael Bolotin, Brittany Eason, Tiffany Gardner, Harley Kroll, Angela Pierce, Heather Allen, Jorge Arroyo, Kellie Kilppel; (kneeling L to R): Jonathan Robinson and Darius Maboudi.