As the State Leadership Conference approaches, we take a moment to reflect on all we have done, and continue to do, to prepare for this experience. The year started with a meeting to introduce our officers and explain to everyone what we do. At first we, well the Biomed I class, was awkward and difficult to communicate with. Now, here we are throwing parties and bringing food for whatever occasion we can muster. Our parties range from Halloween Parties to birthdays to any excuse to bring Doritos.
As Health Occupations Students we jump at the opportunity to inform you that cookies are in fact healthy for you. Cookies make people happy and happy is healthy, right? For four weeks we will sell cookies as a fundraiser for our 2014 State Leadership Conference. At this point, most of us have our basic hotel and registration paid for and are compiling our funds for food and the mall trip. As Elko students, a mall trip is a must when we venture to the "Big City." This year, 24 members from both Elko and Spring Creek will be attending the State Conference. Our events include: the Health Care Issues Exam, Vet Assisting, Medical Reading, CERT, CPR, Sports Med, Healthy Lifestyles, Extemporaneous Poster Making, and of course Extemporaneous Writing. All of our competitors are working hard and studying to make the best of the skills events and tests to come. Zoee Castro, of Elko, has already taken her Human Growth and Development test and placed in the top five. Two of our chapter officers are preparing to run for state office, both of us will be graduating so we will be running for the same positions adding a touch of competitive edge to our chapter.
HOSA week in Elko has grown in the last two years. Last year, a class competition took place and our HOSA chapter took gold at state with $800. This year the festivities expanded to include an obstacle course, a chicken drop, taco-in-a-bag sales, and a night at Spoon Me, the local Fro-yo hot spot. Mr. Kohntopp's Welding class won our class competition and just with what his class raised, we more than doubled last years total.
In our classes, we continue to prepare ourselves for the medical field. The Biomed I class has begun their dissection unit. While some squeal and barely poke it others are getting elbow deep in exploring arteries and veins. The Biomed III class just completed our fetal pig autopsy where our pigs were pulled apart piece by piece to discover how they died. Our causes of death ranged from spinal cord breaks to brain hemorrhages.
Between fundraising, studying, and preparation our chapter teams have been hard at work. We look forward to all that State, Nationals, and the end of the second semester brings.

Courtney Harris, Elko High School HOSA Vice President