By: MMACHS Staff
After an incredible showing at the 2024 Idaho Hosa State Leadership Conference, where seventy-two students took home medals in thirty different competitive events, sixty-six members of the MMACHS HOSA chapter will be setting off for Houston, Texas next week to compete at the International Leadership Conference.
The HOSA: Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference is an annual event held in June where for one week students from all over the world compete, learn, and network. MMACHS students qualified in a variety of events, spanning all five categories which include Health Science, Health Professions, Emergency Preparedness, Leadership, and Teamwork.
The competition is intense, and while the Guardian Knights have experienced an inordinate amount of success over the last couple of years, students know that even making the second round or cracking the top ten is an incredible accomplishment.
Elijah Zimmerman, 2024 MMACHS graduate and former Idaho HOSA State President, will be making his fourth and final trip to ILC this year.
"Attending ILC all four years has given me so many opportunities to meet and network with different universities, industry leaders, and students from all around the world, while still allowing me to learn and have fun. I will cherish every memory that I've made at ILC." he says.
While networking and learning from experts in their field has been a huge benefit for Elijah, he's also hoping to finish his ILC career with some competitive success. "...hopefully the cherry on top is performing well in EMT this year."
Aside from competing and meeting fellow HOSA members from all over the world, students will have the ability to explore area sites and attractions. This year's itinerary includes a Houston Astros game at Minute Made Park, and a trip to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park. Students will also be able to attend smaller optional excursions around downtown Houston organized by MMACHS staff.
Current MMACHS HOSA President Bayley Schultz, whose Biomedical Debate team won a silver medal at the Idaho State Leadership Conference, will be making her second trip to ILC this summer and is most excited about the environment.
"ILC is one of my favorite memories!" says Bayley. "It's so fun to be able to travel to such cool places with all your friends. MMACHS makes ILC even better. It's like a giant family vacation."
Students also have an opportunity to learn at world class symposiums conducted by experts in various health science fields from all over the country. Some of the dozens of optional workshops include:
Advice on how to improve your medical school applications and increase your MCAT score
Interacting with new high-tech medical equipment
Lectures on getting started in different health science career fields from industry leaders
Unique experiences like creating a necklace based on DNA samples you extract from your own cheek cells
Health-science themed escape rooms
Watching real-time live diagnosis of a patient in a hospital on the other side of the world
While taking such a large group to another part of the country might seem daunting, Advisor Blake Gaudet chalks up the success of the experience to the students in the program.
"I'm really lucky that this is the group I get to associate myself with. This will be my third time taking kids to ILC as a lead advisor and seventh ILC trip overall, and these students impress me every year with the way they conduct themselves. I'm a competitive guy and I love it when they experience success in their events, but mostly I'm just proud of how they represent themselves, our school, and Idaho while we're there."
Students will be leaving next Tuesday morning and returning on Sunday evening. You can follow updates on the MMACHS HOSA Instagram page (@mmachshosa) or check back on this website for a recap of the competition when the event wraps up.
Good luck to our Guardian Knights!
Misc. MMACHS HOSA ILC Facts:
MMACHS will be taking sixty-six students to the competition, a record for the program.
All four grade levels will be represented in the MMACHS delegation including seven freshmen!
Multiple countries will be in attendance at ILC this year, including competitors from China, Canada, and South Korea.
At the 2023 International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, MMACHS took home two gold medals in Parliamentary Procedure and CPR/First Aide.
At the 2022 International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, MMACHS took home a gold medal in Extemporaneous Writing.
In total MMACHS has taken home 15 medals at ILC (seven gold, five silver, and three bronze), with the first coming in 2007.
Upcoming ILC locations include Baltimore, Indianapolis, and a return trip to Nashville.