Cigarroa Student Receives Top Honor at HOSA National Conference
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Jul 11, 2013, Comments Off
Courtesy Roberto Treviño,
(Laredo, Tx)-Eduardo Gonzalez, a senior at Dr. Leo G. Cigarroa High School, recently attended the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Gonzalez represented CHS and Laredo ISD at the national level where he received national recognition and top honors in the Medical Photography category.
The five-day conference provided Gonzalez, along with 7,000 HOSA students, the opportunity to gain expert knowledge about health care careers and issues, attend leadership training sessions, participate in hands-on workshops, network with students who share similar interests, and test their skills by competing in various health-related events.
“The conference was a great learning experience,” said Gonzalez. “It gave me the confidence to break out of me shell. I was able to meet such a diverse group of my peers and experience life away from home.”
In order for students to attend the national conference, they had to compete at the state level and earn a first, second, or third place in their event. Gonzalez placed second in his respective category during the HOSA state conference.
CHS Health Science Technology Instructor Elaine Ibarra said she was proud of Eduardo’s performance and his ability to compete against the top HOSA students from across the nation.
“The level of competition is a whole different level that what he is used to,” said Ibarra. “I’m so proud of Eduardo. He worked extremely hard to place in the Top 10 in the nation. He makes us Toro proud!”
When asked what he gained from this once in a lifetime opportunity, Gonzalez replied the competition broadened my horizons. “I learned about communicating with people. It allowed me to be prepared and confident about myself,” said Gonzalez.
According to Gonzalez he was encouraged by a classmate to join HOSA. “My best friend is the one who pushed me. I didn’t even know what HOSA was,” said Gonzalez. “All I knew it was something new and that I was up to the challenge. Their encouragement was a blessing in disguise.”
Gonzalez also spent the first week of summer vacation attending the 2013 American Legion Boys State Summer Leadership Program at the University of Texas in Austin. He was among 936 young men from across Texas who participated in the Leadership Program that teaches young men how government works.
