BY ANGELA MATUA
Students at Thomas Edison Career and Technical Education (C.T.E.) High School in Jamaica are hoping to compete at this June’s HOSA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, and they are asking for help in raising the funds to get there.
Dr. Margaret Savitzky, who has taught at the school since 2002, was looking for ways to expose her students to real-world opportunities within the field and stumbled upon the HOSA (Health Occupational Students of America) National Leadership Conference.
The conference, which will be held from June 24 to June 27, combines workshops to expose students to professionals in the health care field and a national competition where students compete in events such as medical spelling, medical terminology, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and more.
Last year, Savitzky was able to take 25 students to the state conference, where they won 10 medals. The winners were invited to the national conference in Florida but did not place. This year, 20 students attended the state conference in Syracuse and 16 students won either first, second or third place.
State budget cuts have depleted the school’s budget for trips like this one, so Savitzky is asking the community for help.
The registration fee, which is $90, needs to be paid by May 9. Savitzky is looking to take four students and two chaperones to the conference and she will have to raise money for flights, a hotel and food for the trip.
The registration fee is non-refundable, so Savitzky is determined to raise money for the additional costs. She estimates that $5,500 will be the total cost of the trip and has set up a GoFundMe page to raise the money.
Interested parties can also send a check to Thomas Edison C.T.E. High School (memo: HOSA) 165-65 84th Ave., Jamaica, NY 11432.
Savitzky said this conference helps her students participate in activities that are tangible and prepare them to pursue a career in the health care field.
“As teachers, we stress the importance of education. We acknowledge the importance of the students participating in ‘real-world’ activities,” Dr. Savitzky said. “The terms ‘career and college ready’ are important goals in education today. My students worked hard to excel at the NYS HOSA conference, applying academic and career-related skills. They now have a chance to prove themselves and demonstrate these goals against peers at the national level.”
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