SLHS HOSA Chapter earns second place in Organ Donor Challenge
San Luis High School’s HOSA chapter earned second place honors during the Donor Network of Arizona’s annual campaign to register high school students as organ and tissue donors.
The High School Heroes Challenge was open to all HOSA chapters in the state of Arizona through the month of October. During that time, nearly 3,000 high school students registered or reaffirmed registrations to be organ and tissue donors. The Donor Network of Arizona determines winners in categories according to school size. SLHS competes in the Large School category and won second place among all large high schools in Arizona.
“I’m very proud of my HOSA students and the students who signed up to be an organ donor,” SLHS HOSA adviser Kim Elg said. “Being in EMS (Emergency Medical Services), we have to try to save as many lives as possible. This is something I am passionate about and am a donor myself. Organ donation hit home recently when my brother-in-law donated a kidney to a friend in need. This is a reminder that organ donation does not always have to come out of tragedy. Yet, in the event of a tragedy we, and our loved ones, can live on saving other lives.”
SLHS HOSA has competed the past three years in the High School Heroes Challenge and took first place last year. For the 2018 competition, SLHS garnished the most pledges, but were awarded second place as many of the pledges were from underage students pledging to be donors when they come of age.
HOSA is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of ACTE. HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA's goal is to encourage all health science instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSE-HOSA Partnership.
Students who are HOSA members at SLHS are enrolled in classes related to the medical or health services field, such as Emergency Medical Services, Nursing or Sports Medicine, through Yuma Union High School District’s Career & Technical Education program.