(Bradenton, Fla., August 2, 2024) — Two State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) students won awards in competitions at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference in Houston. Laura Zhen finished first place in behavioral health, and Autumn Chellis finished third place in prepared speaking. Chellis started SCF’s HOSA chapter as its founding president in the 2023-24 school year.

As a student-led organization, HOSA provides educational and leadership development activities for middle school to college students interested in health-focused careers. The organization also holds state, regional and international conferences.

“My experience at ILC 2024 was unforgettable,” said Chellis. “I was able to showcase what I’ve been perfecting all year and meet new people from across the world—from Canada to South Korea to China.”

Like Chellis, Zhen found the conference rewarding and memorable.

“My experience at HOSA ILC was something I will remember forever,” said Zhen. “Not only did I have the opportunity to compete worldwide, but I also got to meet people from all over the world.”

Involved with HOSA since eighth grade, Chellis has attended 18 HOSA conferences and benefited from her conference and club participation.

“I joined HOSA to get myself out of my comfort zone and make new friends,” Chellis said. “It quickly grew into exploring opportunities they offer, like scholarships and internships, and experiencing real-life skills and knowledge.”

Chellis enrolled as a freshman at SCF in Fall 2023. Her major is business administration with a marketing concentration. This fall, she plans to continue her undergraduate education at another college in Tallahassee. She wants to later attend law school and become a medical malpractice lawyer.

Zhen will serve as HOSA’s acting president and assist in a new advisor search in the 2024-25 school year. She started as a dual-enrollment student through her high school at SCF in Fall 2023. Her major is psychology with a pre-med track. Her dream is to become a psychiatrist. She plans to continue her undergraduate education toward a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate degree.  

With a longtime passion for medicine, Zhen happily joined HOSA at SCF since her high school did not have a chapter.

“I knew this would be a great opportunity for me to explore the medical field more and meet new people,” Zhen said. “I will definitely continue to participate for as long as I can.”

For more information about SCF’s student clubs, visit SCF.edu/Explore/Student-Life/Student-Clubs/.

Photo caption: Autumn Chellis at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Houston.

Photo caption: Laura Zhen at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Houston.