Before the school day begins, students aspiring to careers in healthcare gather for their zero-hour class as members of Central’s HOSA chapter.
HOSA, or Health Occupations Students of America, is an organization that prepares students for jobs in healthcare fields.
The club had numerous members before the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 30 Central students, but the club halted due to Covid restrictions and lost members, like many school-related activities, in COVID’s wake.
“The number dwindled a bit after [Covid]… it has kind of been getting it back going again,” said club sponsor and anatomy teacher John Morley. The club officially began operating again in August of this school year.
Seven years ago, Morley was asked by students to sponsor a HOSA program at Central so they could compete at the state competition, and he agreed. “I gladly took the reins and helped them out,” Morley explained.
Now, more than a semester in, current Central HOSA president and junior Jake Carlson believes the most successful thing the club has done thus far is expanded. “Last year we had about eight people and this year, we have 37 members total,” Carlson said.
Carlson said he gained interest in the program after hearing about it on social media. “My ‘For You’ page (on TikTok) if you want to be more specific,” Carlson said. He then approached Morley with interest.
HOSA members compete in two competitions per calendar year: a state competition in March, and a national competition over the summer. They spend the entire school year preparing. In order to qualify for nationals, students must place in the top three at the state competition. Each member chooses a competitive event about various sects of medicine and is tested on their knowledge and skills in that topic.
The club’s leadership team is enrolled at zero hour. Carlson mentioned working with study tools during this time, all in preparation for Brain Bee.
Brain bee is a separate competitive event where students are tested on their knowledge on the brain and nervous system. Two college students who are majoring in neuroscience come in once a week to tutor the leadership for this other event.
When the whole club meets Wednesday mornings, “We have a mix of guest speakers, we do projects, and we do labs in class sometimes,” Morley said.
Club treasurer, junior Claudia Mauwa, mentioned her favorite part of the club is the atmosphere. “Everyone is very welcoming, and we usually have a lot of fun,” she said.
“The snacks are great too!”
“The fun stuff is second semester,” Carlson said, laughing. The only field trip they have gone on so far was to York, Nebraska, to take part in breakout sessions all based on topics such as mental health, the brain and the nervous system.
The club looks forward to things like a trip to Creighton University for their annual cadaver lab in the spring and competing in the state competition.