Lemont High School Junior Qualifies for National Health Occupations Leadership Conference

Thanks to a standout performance in state competition, Lemont High
School junior Robert Parson has earned the opportunity to compete
against some of the top students in his field. Parson posted a runner-up
finish in his category at the state’s Health Occupations Students of
America (HOSA) 2012 State Leadership Conference, which was held from
March 14-16 at the Decatur Conference Center in Decatur, Ill. Parson’s
performance earned him the opportunity to take part in the 2012 HOSA
National Leadership Conference, which will be held from June 20-23 at
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla. Senior Shauna Miksys
and junior Lanaea Malak also posted top-ten finishes at the state
leadership conference.

Parson had two top-five finishes individually, and was part of a
top-ten team in a group category. He was second in the “Extemporaneous
Speaking” category, and was fifth in the “Nursing Assistant”
event. Miksys was tenth in the “Extemporaneous Health Poster”
competition. Miksys and Parton teamed with Malak to finish eighth in the
“Public Service Announcement” category. Students who placed among
the top three in their respective events at the 2012 State Leadership
Conference qualified to compete at the 2012 HOSA National Leadership
Conference.

Malak, Miksys and Parson all are enrolled in the Health Occupations
program at the Wilco Area Career Center, which brings together students
from several local school districts to provide students a variety of
quality vocational and technical education programs in a cost-effective
manner.  Wilco’s programs are designed to offer students career-based
courses that provide skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.
Lemont High School District 210 is a member of Wilco, as are Lockport
High School District 205, Plainfield School District 202, Reed-Custer
School District 255, Valley View School District 365, and Wilmington
School District 209.

The 2012 State Leadership Conference brought together Career and
Technical Education students from across Illinois to compete in nearly
20 categories. Wilco qualified students for the national conference in
nine events; those students represent six high schools, including Coal
City, Lemont, Lockport, Plainfield Central, Plainfield North and
Wilmington.

HOSA is a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department
of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of the
Association for Career and Technical Education. HOSA promotes career
opportunities in the health care industry and works to enhance the
delivery of quality health care to all people. It provides a unique
program of leadership development, motivation and recognition
exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult and collegiate students
enrolled in HSE programs.