HOSA students compete

Riverbend Professional Technical Academy in Post Falls sent 17 area high school students to Boise recently to participate in the 10th annual Health Occupations Students of America.

They competed against 550 students from throughout the state. HOSA is a student organization whose mission is to promote career opportunities in health care.

Local winners were:

Rayanne Ledbetter, Lakeland, second, Human Growth and Development

Grace Burrington, Kootenai Bridge, third, Human Growth and Development

Justin Petersen, Lake City, third, Pharmacology knowledge

Autumn Cox, Lakeland, third, veterinary assistant

Jaspreet Kaur, Post Falls, second, extemporary health poster

Bryauna Spencer,

Coeur d'Alene, Outstanding HOSA chapter

Kaur was also elected the new Region One vice president for state HOSA to serve 2010-2011.

The above students are planning to attend the National HOSA conference in June in Orlando, Fla.

Teacher Vicki Trefz, HOSA adviser from Riverbend, was honored for her 10 years of service the organization. She was one of five instructors responsible for bringing HOSA to Idaho, where it got its start in North Idaho in 2000.