VALENCIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

TOP NATIONAL COMPETITION

Valencia High School seniors Simona Bor and Jessica Gonzalez were named national finalists in their respective events (pathophysiology and nursing assisting) at the Health Occupations Students of America National Leadership Conference. Simona and Jessica , students in North Orange County ROP's Medical Careers class at Valencia, were both first-time competitors.

More than 6,300 secondary and post-secondary students competed at this distinguished competition. Simona and Jessica advanced to nationals after placing in top spots at the state level where they competed alongside 1,500 students. Simona placed first at the state level in the knowledge test of the pathophysicology event and Jessica placed third in the nursing assisting skills event.

Simona aspires to become a doctor and Jessica plans to become a registered nurse. Simona and Jessica are members of the school’s Health Occupations Students of America club sponsored by the North Orange County ROP. Instructor Lupe Rodriguez teaches the class and serves as the club’s advisor.

The national event is sponsored by the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), a national student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of the Association of Career and Technical Education. For more information, visit the organization’s website at http://www.hosa.org/nlc/nlc.html.