By Jonathan McDonough

HOSA adviser, Pacelli Catholic Schools

All Pacelli students competing in the state HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America, now known as Future Health Professionals)  conference on March 20-22 in St. Cloud placed in third place or higher, with several headed toward international competition in June.

The Pacelli chapter competed in a pool of almost 400 students from around the state of Minnesota, with all seven Pacelli students placing third or higher in at least one event.

All students who place second or higher qualify for the international conference. Pacelli will send six students to Dallas, Texas, at the end of June to compete against students from around the country. The next few months will include continued preparation as these exemplary students who will be held to even higher standards at the next level of competition.

Awards were earned as follows: Lynsey McMahon and Hailee Schaefer – First Place/Community Awareness; Shenali DeSilva and Daisy Hernandez – Second Place/Community Awareness; Shenali DeSilva – Second Place/Medical Spelling; Cristina Velasquez – Third Place/Nutrition Knowledge Test/Middle School Category; Neha Thawani Nanda – First Place/Medical Terminology Knowledge Test/Middle School Category; Sonia Ramirez – First Place/Biomedical Laboratory Science; Sonia Ramirez – Third Place/Pharmacology Knowledge Test.

HOSA is an international student-led organization for those interested in pursuing careers in a health-related field. This is Pacelli’s second year of participation in the HOSA organization.

If you are interested in learning more about Pacelli Catholic Schools visit our website at www.pacellischools.org, email admin@pacellischools.org or call 507-437-3278.