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October 2, 2009

HOSA group benefits students, communitiy

If high school students or adults are taking health related classes at High Plains Technology Center, they most likely belong to HOSA.

HOSA, an acronym for Health Occupations Student of America, is an organization that promotes leadership skills, speaking, interviewing and professionalism.

It also prepares students to work in the health care industry.

At High Plains Technology Center, 32 students enrolled in a health care field are members.

Two serve as presidents of the organization.

Coquina Critten, a Sharon-Mutual High School student studying phlebotomy and health aid at High Plains Technology Center is president of morning HOSA students. Mayra Rodriguez, an adult student, is the president for afternoon students. She is also studying phlebotomy, or the procedure of drawing blood.

“Most people don’t know about HOSA or what it is,” said Polly Cottom, health careers instructor at the technology center. “It is a national organization that promotes professionalism among high school students and adults.”

“We have participants from Buffalo, Gage, Fargo, Vici, Fort Supply, Sharon-Mutual, Woodward and Mooreland,” Cottom said.

Because HOSA also involves planning activities, the students are sponsoring a blood drive that will be held in Room 116 at the technology center on Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“We’re also selling candles to raise money for a competition at the Clarion in Oklahoma City in April, and we’re raising money for an autism program” called Autism Speaks, Cottom said.

To promote their Autism Speaks program, HOSA students will present videos about autism at the Rally Around Children event scheduled for Oct. 24 at the Woodward County Fairgrounds.

On Oct. 20, HOSA officers will go to a state conference in Oklahoma City, she said, noting that at the end of the year, the students will take an educational field trip.

“Last year, we toured the University of Oklahoma Health Services Center in Oklahoma City,” Cottom said.

Because the organization sponsors an autism program, it does accept donations for Autism Speaks. For information about contributing, contact Cottom at (580) 571-6161.

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