Thirty-five Warren Tech health care and dental assisting students competed in the state HOSA conference March 6 - 8 at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Denver. HOSA, Health Occupations Students of America, is a national student organization designed to promote leadership and career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. State competitions in March ranged from leadership topics such as prepared speech, creative problem solving and job interviewing to technical topics like dental/medical terminology, dental assisting, first aid/rescue breathing, medical assisting clinical, and sports medicine. In addition, there were team competitions in bio-medical debate, medical reading, and forensic medicine.

Warren Tech students were medal winners in 12 of the 15 events entered. These first, second and third place winners will be competing at the national level in June at the National HOSA Conference in Dallas, Texas.

In the Teamwork Events Category, students were medal winners in four of the eight events.
First Place Biomedical Debate: Kenton Harder (Dakota Ridge), Nic Hernandez (Arvada West), Pat McGann (Dakota Ridge), Vincent Ritucci (Green Mountain).
Second Place Career Health Display: Danielle Donovan (Ralston Valley), Stephanie Padia (Dakota Ridge)
First Place Community Awareness: Kayla Adams (Dakota Ridge), Allison Degner (Columbine)
First Place Medical Reading: Leticia Bailey (Compass Montessori), Maggie Burdue (Jeffco Open), Kayla Moore (Wheat Ridge)
Second Place Medical Reading: Esther Kidwell (Collegiate Academy), Sarah Lahnert (Golden), Synia Son (Golden)

In the Emergency Preparedness Events Category, students outperformed actual certified teams.
First Place CERT (Community Emergency Response Team): Courtney Bruton (Columbine ), Jaden Matheus (Pine),
Second Place CERT: Hannah O'Rourke (Evergreen), Luke Staley (Pomona)

In the Health Science Events Category, Cindy Mendez (Wheat Ridge) earned second place in Medical Spelling.

In the Leadership Events Category, students were medal winners in five of seven events.
First Place Extemporaneous Writing: Sarah Lahnert (Golden)
First Place Job Seeking: Maggie Burdue (Jeffco Open)
Second Place Job Seeking: Brittney Stringham (Arvada West)
Third Place Medical Photography: Brittany Sheible (Pomona)
Second Place Prepared Speech: Kayla Adams (Dakota Ridge)
First Place Researched Persuasive Speech: Allison Degner (Columbine)
Second Place Researched Persuasive Speech: Sarah Mack (Arvada)

Kedrick Feldon (Arvada West) earned first place for the Pacesetter Award for Community Service and Chapter Events.

In the Health Professions Events, Brittnie Thompson (Green Mountain) took First Place in Dental Assisting Clinical Skills.

Along with contest successes, two students were elected to state board positions. These students will serve one-year terms on the Colorado HOSA student governing board. Kayla Adams (Dakota Ridge) was elected state Vice-President and Allison Degner (Columbine) was elected Executive of Marketing/Publications.

Students will travel to Dallas, Texas June 18 - 21 along with their instructors, Linda Efird and Theresa Holland.

Warren Tech is Jefferson County School District's Career and Technical High School open to any student at least 16 years old from Jefferson, Clear Creek or Gilpin counties. For more information, call 303-982-8600 or visit the website, www.warrentech.org.