Gatton Academy Student, Alumni Honored at State HOSA Conference

WKU students have qualified for national competition by placing at the Kentucky Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) State Leadership Conference.

Victoria Bertke, a senior pre-med major from Reynolds Station and Gatton Academy alumna, and Matthew Kirk, a junior biology major from Livermore and Gatton Academy alumnus, won the post-secondary division for CPR/first aid.

Emily Hall, a Nicholasville student in the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU, won the post-secondary division in medical math.

The state competition was March 9-13 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville and gave students the opportunity to participate in health-related competitions and educational symposiums. Students finishing first, second or third in each competition qualify to compete at the national HOSA conference in Orlando June 22-26.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. Established in 1976, its mission is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students and helping students meet the needs of the health care community.

WKU’s HOSA chapter is sponsored by the South Central Area Health Education Center in WKU’s College of Health and Human Services.

For more information, contact Amy Wininger at (270) 745-6265.

Emily Hall, Health Occupations, HOSA, Matt Kirk, Spring 2010, Students of America, Tori Bertke