LAKEWOOD RANCH -- The Manatee Technical Institute East Campus hosted the HOSA Region 5 Conference on February 4. Top-place winners will have the opportunity to compete at the state level. HOSA is a national health occupations student organization.
This was the largest regional event the East Campus had ever hosted with over 450 members representing 14 area postsecondary, secondary and middle schools. Judges for the 67 contests came from Manatee Memorial Hospital, Manatee Emergency Medical Services, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center, and Blake Medical Center.
Manatee Tech and South Florida State College were the only two schools competing at the postsecondary level. MTI students placed 1st in 18 of the 21 postsecondary events. Among the events were Dental Science, Massage Therapy, Creative Problem Solving and Medical Assisting.
Ten area high schools competed at the secondary level in 36 events. Manatee District high school students from Bayshore, Braden River, Lakewood Ranch, Manatee, Palmetto and Southeast placed 1st in 29 of them. They were competing against DeSoto County High, Hardee Senior High, and Sarasota and Venice High Schools. Events included CPR/First Aid, Biotechnology, Epidemiology, Healthy Lifestyle, Medical Photography, Public Service Announcement, and Veterinary Science.
Middle school students from King and Nolan competed in 10 contests. King Middle School students took first in six of them and Nolan in four. Some of the events were Medical Spelling, Health Awareness Project, Extemporaneous Writing, and First Aid/Rescue Breathing.
MTI Dental Assisting Program Director Kim Bland served as the Conference Manager. MTI has the largest postsecondary HOSA chapter in the state, and MTI students consistently place in the top ten at the national level.