MADISON – The record-shattering performance of a group of James Clemens High School students even exceeded their expectations. The Health Occupations Students of America or HOSA chapter smashed school records.

James Clemens HOSA students earned the most first-place gold medals that the school has ever received in the HOSA Virtual State Leadership Conference on March 4.

“These students are a true testament of the drive and perseverance required of a future health professional … and during a pandemic,” co-sponsor and health science teacher Ashley H. Steinert said. “Needless to say, we are incredibly proud.”

In state-level competition, James Clemens earned 14 first-place gold medals, two second-place silver medals and two third-place bronze medals. James Clemens registered one of the largest chapters at the conference.

Gold-medal recipients were Alice Shin, Behavioral Health, first time in school history for the category; Nikhita Mudium, Cultural Diversities & Disparities; Yewon ‘Emily’ Lee, Medical Math; Jayamallika Vadapalli, Dental Science, first time in school history; Sydney Hur, Veterinary Science, first time in school history; Sara Guo, Epidemiology; Khushi Patel, Vaishali Ojha, Shaivi Pandey and Ethan Xu, Creative Problem-Solving; and Laura Kennedy, Montgomery Lin, Logan Cook and Owen Racelis, HOSA Bowl, first time in school history.

Ria Sethi earned a silver medal in Nutrition. Bronze medal winners were Haripriya Mantraratnam for Medical Law & Ethics and Abdullah Shaikh for Nutrition.

Claiming fourth-place awards were Punarvi Mandadapu, Biomedical Lab Science; and Kaitlyn Childress, Destiny Canady, Ashlyn Dougherty and Jared Damron, Biomedical Debate.

Fifth-place winners were Santosh Sadasivam, Behavioral Health and Adrian Lai, Medical Math.

HOSA’s program incorporates continued health science education and development for middle level, secondary, post-secondary to alumni. HOSA’s chapter model also allows for industry-based chapters to reach the HOSA experience.

HOSA believes that its set of goals are vital to each member. These ideas direct students on a successful career path:

* Developing the ability to communicate more effectively with people.

* Nurturing strong character habits, citizenship traits, self-confidence and pride to contacts in everyday life.

* Understanding the importance of pleasing oneself, along with giving service to others.

* Making realistic career choices and seeking successful employment in the health care field.

* Appreciating the importance in interacting and cooperating with other students and organizations.

* Developing an understanding of current health care issues, environmental concerns and survival needs of the community, nation and world.

For more information, visit Alabamahosa.com.