Students from the Hoosier Hills Career Center (HHCC) competed in the statewide HOSA Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference April 15-17 in Indianapolis, and several placed in the top 10 in their competition categories. Students from the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) participated, along with students from regional high schools that partner with the HHCC.
Each year, Hoosier Hills Career Center students participate in the conference to compete in a variety of healthcare events, including skills demonstrations, testing events, and a research, writing, and speaking competition.
“When our students join HOSA and compete at the state and national levels, they aren’t just memorizing facts and earning their high school grade toward graduation — they are mastering technical skills, sharpening their professional communication, and gaining the authentic healthcare experiences needed for their futures,” said Christine Wrightsman, director of the Hoosier Hills Career Center. “We are so excited to see the success of each of these students!”
Bloomington High School South (BHSS) junior Sid Patel not only participated in the conference but was elected as a vice president on the HOSA Executive Council for the 2026-27 school year.
“As Executive Council, we plan all the conferences. We also have a fall leadership academy and a winter rally to try to increase engagement in HOSA, while making it more fun,” he said. “A lot of time also goes into visiting local chapters, spreading the word on what HOSA is. We also go to a lot of teamwork events, like the Washington, D.C. Leadership Academy, which is a summit for HOSA state officers.”
Patel brings a wealth of experience to his national leadership role. Previously, he served as a local HOSA chapter president, and he has also excelled in competition. This year, he competed and placed in the top 10 statewide in various testing events: Behavioral Health (first place); Family Medicine (sixth place); and Research, Writing, and Speaking (seventh place).
Students who also placed in the top 10 include Bloomington High School North (BHSN) student Kierstyn Candelaria (fourth place for Home Health Aide), BHSN student Reed Greenfield (eighth place in ATC – Microbiology and sixth place in Pathophysiology), and Martinsville High School student Emalee Driscol (ninth place for Medical Reading).
Patel said the competition helps prepare students for their futures.
“I’ve always wanted to go into the medicine field, and after doing HOSA and some of these events, they taught me more about what careers are actually available to me,” said Patel.
At Hoosier Hills, students interested in healthcare start with foundational coursework in their first year before gaining internship experiences in their second year.
“You start out with classes like anatomy and physiology, first aid, and dementia care so it gets your feet wet in every single career, to see what they offer. Seeing if you like anatomy and physiology or if you like doing lab work more — it helps you see what you want to do in the future,” said Patel.
Through Hoosier Hills, students can earn industry certifications before they graduate. They can also take dual credit courses to gain both high school and college credit.
As a high school junior, Patel is certified in CPR, First Aid and AED, as well as dementia care. He is also earning dual credits that he plans to transfer to Ivy Tech Community College or Indiana University. He is considering attending Ivy Tech for his first year of college or pursuing a bachelor’s degree for neuroscience or biology.
Next year he is looking forward to pursuing internship options while balancing responsibilities in the HOSA Executive Council.
Families and students interested in signing up for classes at the Hoosier Hills Career Center can visit hoosierhills.mccsc.edu.
