Hopkinton High School HOSA students pose for a picture at the Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference.

Following top three placements in state competition, a number of Hopkinton High School students qualified to participate in the Future Health Professionals (HOSA) International Leadership Conference in Nashville last month.

Those who qualified are Akshaya Kolluri (first place, Behavioral Health), Vaagmi Shukla (second place, Behavioral Health), Devanshi Agrawal, Aishwarya Vijay, Rithikaa Vigneshwaran and Sofia Dhayal (first place, Community Awareness, team event), Sahasra Charkam and Teju Pitchuka (second place, Community Awareness, team event), Anvitha Nimmagada and Amrusha Uppala (first place, Health Career Display, team event), Aarushi Kamra (first place, Job Seeking Skills), Shrija Kumar (second place, Job Seeking Skills) and Piyusha Majgaonkar (second place, Medical Terminology), while Nimmagada (first place, Prepared Speaking) and Charkam (second place, Researched Persuasive Writing and Speaking) also qualified individually. Kamra, Kumar and Majgaonkar did not attend the ILC, although they went in previous years.

Additionally, seven students qualified for and received the Barbara James Service Award for completing many hours of health care-related community service. Charkam and Shukla earned gold level recognition for at least 250 hours of service, Dhayal and Aneesha Pathengay reached the silver level (175-249.9 hours), and Agrawal, Kolluri and Nimmagadda qualified for the bronze level (100-174.9 hours).

Community Service and HOSA advisor Marjorie J. Billeter said this is the fifth year HHS students have qualified for the international conference since the school started its HOSA Club in 2020.

At the conference, HHS students participated in dozens of health care workshops, seminars, panel discussions and hands-on training, according to Billeter.

They also competed against top students from the United States and around the world in specialized events, presented portfolios of their best work to a panel of judges, were tested on their knowledge, and networked with health professionals, leaders in health careers and more than 14,000 students.

The advisor said HHS students developed and practiced their competitive events after school throughout the year.

“As their interest in becoming health professionals grows, they become even more dedicated and enthusiastic about learning, researching and exploring career possibilities,” Billeter explained.

She noted the community is very supportive of the students who are interested in potential careers as doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, veterinarians, dentists and other health care fields.

“Participating in the International Leadership Conference is a powerful way to build this interest and strengthen connections for the future of health care,” Billeter noted.

Agrawal, a rising senior, serves as chapter president, which involves hosting meetings, organizing campaigns, mentoring members and ensuring participants have all the tools they need.

Agrawal said attending the ILC event for three years reminds her why she cares so much about the organization.

“It’s helped shape my confidence, leadership style and future goals in health care,” she said.

“I’ve been in HOSA since day one of high school, and I’ve stayed committed because I genuinely believe in what we’re doing and the impact we can make,” Agrawal added.

Stepping into the role of co-president during her junior year, Agrawal said her leadership board was charged with registering members for states, guiding them through competitions and keeping everything running smoothly.

“We hit a few bumps, messed up registration at one point, but we figured it out, communicated better and got everything back on track,” she said. “That experience definitely taught me how to handle pressure, lead with accountability and rely on the people around me.”

Now as president, Agrawal added, “Leading this chapter is something I take seriously, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a team.”

Part of that team is Shukla, who serves as vice president. She wanted to become an officer because “I loved the energy, the sense of community and the chance to learn alongside people who were just as passionate about health care.”

She said her focus is on keeping things organized and running smoothly — communicating with members, helping plan events and making sure everyone feels supported, “especially when they’re preparing for competitions or figuring out where they fit in.”

The chapter is so strong, she thinks, because they work collaboratively and have that sense of teamwork.

Speaking about the HHS competitive projects, the officers said what made them stand out was the “thought and passion” invested in them.

They drew inspiration from seeing how students’ personal interests and experiences shaped their entries.

What makes HOSA special, the officers noted in a joint email, is that dedication “as it gives students the space to explore what they care about and turn it into something meaningful.”