This past weekend, Marco Island Academy’s HOSA members attended the State Leadership Conference held at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida. This conference brought together over 4,000 future healthcare professionals all across Florida to compete, learn, and connect. The annual conference gathers the top three teams from each competitive event in their region to compete at the state level.
6 members advanced from the Regional Conference to the State Leadership Conference: Madeleine Knudtson, Sarah Friedhoff, Amelia Skender, Alessandra Sanzera, Cambree Grensing, and Liv Sanford. Madeleine Knudtson competed in the Medical Math event, where she exemplified her understanding of healthcare-related calculations by answering a 60-question test in just 90 minutes. The rest of the girls competed in a team event, Mental Health Promotion, in which they presented a campaign developed over several months to a panel of judges.
One of the highlights of the conference was the Mental Health Promotion event, in which the team of MIA students earned 2nd place in the state among 33 teams. Their project focused on raising awareness about the mental health challenges student-athletes face. Through social media engagement, in-person outreach, and collaboration with a Nurse Practitioner, the group created a campaign that reached over 5,000 athletes and ultimately showcased their work at the state competition. Founder and President Sarah Friedhoff shared, “Winning second place felt surreal. I am so thankful that all our hard work paid off, and that we were proudly able to represent our school.” The team is now qualified for the International Leadership Conference, which will be held in Indianapolis over the summer.
In addition to their competitive success, MIA students Sarah Friedhoff and Madeleine Knudtson were recognized for their dedication to service. Sarah Friedhoff received bronze recognition, while Madeleine Knudtson earned gold recognition for the Barbara James Service Award. This recognition award honors HOSA members who complete a vast amount of community service hours. Sarah Friedhoff was recognized for completing 150 healthcare-related hours, while Madeleine Knudtson was recognized for an astonishing 250 related service hours.
HOSA Members also had the opportunity to attend workshops and career fairs to explore future paths in healthcare and to network with like-minded, dedicated peers from across the state. These helped members develop both professional and leadership skills by providing information on various aspects of medicine.
Beyond the competitive and educational aspects, the conference also allowed students to bond as a team. From spending time together at Disney Springs to hanging out in each other’s hotel rooms, the experience strengthened connections within the chapter and made the weekend even more memorable.
As MIA’s HOSA chapter continues to expand, members are already excited for what is to come, hoping to build on their success and further their impact in the healthcare community.
