Students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and Leeward Community College participated in the 2015 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference held last month in Anaheim, California. Among over 8,500 students from across the nation who participated in the conference, UH students shone bright and brought home accolades for their hard work in various competition categories.

UH Hilo sent two public service announcement (PSA) teams to the conference who were tasked with developing a 30-second PSA on Concussion: Prevention and Recognition. Team B, which consisted of Chapter President Lark Jason Canico, Shane Naeole and Taumata Tue Vaea (serving as an alternate from UH Mānoa), took 1st place. Team A, which consisted of Ridge Cabaccang, Kelly Gani and
“I’m overwhelmed with joy and still in denial that we captured gold facing such tough competition that included fellow UH Hilo members and other Texas Technical Institutes,” Canico said. “To finish first after coming in second last year makes it extra special.”
- “UH Hilo students earn first place at national competition” – UH Hilo Stories, July 7, 2015

The HOSA team from Leeward CC included students Jadon Agas, Alexander Huang, and Brandon Piamonte. Huang won a gold prize in the Physical Therapy category while Piamonte won bronze in Sports Medicine.