Led by West HOSA Advisor Garth McFarland, West High School’s HOSA – Future Health Professionals chapter achieved a historic milestone at this year’s State Leadership Conference, held Monday and Tuesday in Layton. In a record-breaking achievement, 93 students—61 from the high school and 32 from the middle school—qualified for the International Leadership Conference, set to take place in June in Nashville, Tennessee.

West High also earned top honors, including the Gold Chapter Award and first place in the HOSA Games, reinforcing its standing as one of the most accomplished chapters in the state. Additionally, Bala Tella was elected as Utah HOSA’s Salt Lake/Tooele Vice President, continuing a legacy of student leadership.

A Team Effort Behind the Success

The unprecedented success was made possible through the dedication of students, advisors, and volunteers. Special thanks were extended to Lacy Nelson, Drew Rykert, Jenne Hamlin, and Teri King, who helped manage the 150 students competing over the two-day event.

Top Performers and Awards

West High students dominated in numerous competitive categories, showcasing excellence across a wide range of medical and leadership disciplines.

Individual and Team Achievements:

• Kristen Layton received a $1,000 scholarship from ARUP.

• Aadarsh Kuberan and team placed 1st in Mental Health Promotion.

• Adele Node-Langlois and team won 1st place in MRC Partnership.

• Vanessa Tran secured 1st place in Nursing Assisting.

• Anna Kelley took 1st place in Sports Medicine, with Elizabeth Dailey (3rd) and Olivia Babcock (4th) placing alongside her.

• Bhavya Soni won 1st place in Clinical Lab Science and Healthy Living, along with top rankings in multiple science and leadership categories.

• Neil Raman earned 1st place in Extemporaneous Writing and 2nd in Organizational Leadership.

• Shurik Rajeev placed 1st in World Health & Disparities.

• Isaac Regehr and team took 4th place in Biomedical Debate.

• Lucy Bonkowsky’s team won 1st place in Dynamic Decisions.

• Joshya Yerrapureddy and Adwita Mandiwal earned 1st place in Health Career Display.

• Angela Zhou, Kristen Layton, and multiple other students qualified for the International Healthcare Issues Exam.

Additionally, West High students achieved top placements in Math for Health Careers, Epidemiology, Public Health, Medical Terminology, Biochemistry, and various leadership competitions.

Special Honors and Recognition

Several students were also recognized for exceptional service and leadership:

• Barbara James Service Award: Adwita Mandiwal, Joshya Yerrapureddy

• Outstanding HOSA Leader Award: Kristen Layton, Joshya Yerrapureddy

• Above and Beyond Award: Eshita Singh, Emma Musuris

• 21 students certified as Health Literacy Ambassadors

Looking Ahead to the International Stage

With an unprecedented 93 students qualifying, West High’s HOSA team is now preparing for the International Leadership Conference in Nashville. This achievement not only highlights their dedication to the healthcare field but also solidifies West High’s reputation as a powerhouse in HOSA competitions.

As they set their sights on the next stage, the entire school community stands behind them, cheering for continued success on the national level.

Congratulations to all the students, advisors, and supporters for this remarkable accomplishment!