Every journey begins with a single step. Claire’s first step was joining HOSA as a freshman at Mooresville High School.  She competed in Creative Problem Solving and Career Health Display. Because of her advisors and friends of HOSA, Claire had the opportunity to run for office and to serve as a local chapter officer and state president.  She is also a National Recognition Service Project recipient for her contribution to her chapter for establishing an annual event to raise funds and awareness for those living with Cystic Fibrosis. Other experiences include The HOSA Internship in the Office of the Surgeon General and The HOSA Washington Leadership Academy.

Now as a college sophomore, she attends North Carolina State University on the Park Scholarship and as a University Scholar. Claire is an Industrial Engineer concentrating in Health Systems Engineering and Biomechanics. She wants to enhance the efficiency of healthcare processes such as operating room scheduling or the fit for prosthetic limbs.  Claire thanks HOSA for supporting her to pursue a dynamic education, which integrates engineering and health sciences.

Claire engages in service learning as the Associate Director for Triangle Youth Leadership Services, an organization that encourages and prepares students to become leaders and effectuate positive change in the community through conferences run by students for students.  She is also a member of the ShoeManity Team, a project dedicated to providing shoes to children in the Dominican Republic and Haiti so they can attend school.  

Throughout her journey, Claire discovered HOSA members share one thing in common – the desire to better the world at whatever cost.  These individuals exemplify John Maxwell’s words “A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”

Sean Sheffer has been an impassioned member of HOSA for four years, since the inception of HOSA in Nevada in 2006. Since then, he has served as Chapter Parliamentarian, and Chapter President for Rancho High School, and also Southern State Vice President, and State President. He currently serves as the President-Elect for the National HOSA Executive Council. He has competed in Extemporaneous Speaking, Medical Math, and has been a part of Nevada’s exemplary HOSA Bowl team.

Three of Sean’s greatest of achievements were being awarded HOSA Student Of The Year by the state of Nevada, placing 2nd at the National Leadership Conference 2010 in HOSA Bowl, and receiving the Gates Millennium Scholarship.

Sean is a current student at the University Of Pennsylvania and is pursuing a dual degree in the School Of Nursing and Wharton School of Business. He wishes to become a Business CEO in Health Care Management.

He lives by the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, people can change the world – indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” He believes changing the world begins one new HOSA member at a time.

Rahma Mkuu attends the University of Florida as a junior pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Health Education and Behavior and a Minor in African studies. Rahma has been a HOSA member for six years. As a freshman and an immigrant from Kenya, she joined HOSA because of her passion for health care. As a member, she had the opportunity to gain leadership experience as a chapter secretary, fundraising chair and vice president, regional parliamentarian, state president-elect, and state president.

Rahma’s HOSA experience includes competing in competitive events such as prepared speaking and parliamentary procedure, volunteering as a judge for creative problem solving, parliamentary procedure, and CPR and First Aid. She also attended the Washington Leadership Conference and received the award of Outstanding State Leader.  

Rahma plans to use her experience as a member to help prevent diseases in disadvantaged communities throughout the world. She is part of a research team aiming to learn more about children who suffer from illnesses like Cystic Fibrosis at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. Rahma created the project Toothbrushes for Kenya where she collected over 2,000 toothbrushes and distributed them to orphanages and children in Kenya.

With an enlightening and opportunistic outlook at life in America, she believes that everybody deserves “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” starting one simple yet wholesome gift of inspiration at a time. Rahma believes in the Swahili proverb, “Haba na haba hujaza kibaba” which means that little by little fills up a measure. She strongly believes in the 120,000 HOSA members throughout that will be the future of tomorrow’s health.

Nicole Scott is excited to continue her 5th year as a member of HOSA. She has an undeniable passion for the medical field as she feels that it captures expanding the mind the fullest extent while helping others and saving lives. Nicole cannot picture a more servant and fulfilling life.

During her journey as a HOSA member, Nicole has gained the confidence and enthusiasm to pursue her dreams. Her thirst for learning seems unquenchable and her heart yearns to help fellow members discover the ultimate HOSA experience.  For her, one of the most rewarding aspects of HOSA has been volunteerism. She had the honor to serve as a state officer for two terms, between 2008 and 2010, where she was able to attend Washington Leadership Academy and advocate for health education. One of Nicole’s favorite community projects was teaching elementary students about leading healthy lifestyles, which was implemented to address the Surgeon General’s concern in 2008 about childhood obesity. She believes that working with the national service project, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, will address related critical concerns.

Currently, Nicole is attending the Barrett Honors College as a Presidential Achievement Scholar at Arizona State University and pursuing a dual major in Medicinal Biochemistry and Global Health. She recently received the KidneyWise scholarship and was also deemed a Coca Cola scholar for the class of 2010. Nicole ultimately aspires to go on to medical school where she can concentrate on research and focus on her specialty.  Nicole loves the quote, “There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader”, by Alexandre Ledru-Rollin, because she believes that the role of a leader is to ensure that the voice of the people is heard.

As your Region II Vice President, Nzuekoh Nchinda is in her fifth year of serving through HOSA. She had the honor of serving on the Wisconsin HOSA Executive Council for two years, first as Special Projects Coordinator and then as President.  Her growth through HOSA is highlighted by recognition including Outstanding State Leader, the Barbara James Service Award, and the Wisconsin HOSA Foundation Scholarship.

Community is an integral part of Nzuekoh’s life. She enjoyed leading as President of her local student volunteer organization Oak Creek Service-Learning Club.  As a National Global Citizen Corps Leader, Nzuekoh was able to take international issues that breed poverty and bring awareness in her community. Her concern for global welfare motivated Nzuekoh to found the Cup of Change Project, in which funds and awareness are raised for regions of the world that receive inadequate amounts or quality of water. Music is one of Nzuekoh’s passions, and she has expressed this as a member of the Milwaukee Children’s Choir for six years.

Nzuekoh is attending Harvard University as a freshman. She is pursuing a concentration in neurobiology and a secondary field in Spanish. Her native roots of Cameroon remind Nzuekoh of the urgency of healthcare around the world. She hopes to give the gift of life by becoming a specialized physician who works in the global health setting so that less fortunate communities have the opportunity to prosper.

Nzuekoh wholeheartedly believes that the power of many begins with one. She looks forward to seeing HOSA members take initiative to be active and change their communities. It is a true blessing for her to be the ambassador for the 15 states in Region II and the ever-growing HOSA membership nationwide.

This year marks the third year of membership in HOSA for Chase Edwards. He will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and plans to major in Biology, aspiring to pursue a career as a Radiologist. Chase is excited and thrilled to be representing 17 state associations along the east coast as the Region III Vice-President.

Chase established his passion in HOSA well before being a part of the National Executive Council. He climbed the ladder of leadership by becoming the Vice-President of his HOSA chapter, to take a position as the North Carolina HOSA North Western Treasurer, and then stepping up to become a North Carolina HOSA State Officer. Chase has also placed 2nd in Community Awareness at the NC SLC and been a finalist at the 32nd annual NLC, as well as being a Barbara James Service Award recipient and National Recognition Program recipient. Chase wants for all members to know more about the opportunities that HOSA provides and incorporate more post-secondary/collegiate chapters within HOSA. His favorite quote to live by is making the most of every opportunity, because you never know when your time will come.

For the past four years, Shayna Mooney has truly lived by the HOSA mission statement by utilizing the knowledge, skill, and leadership opportunities HOSA has to offer at the local, state, and national levels. She is a senior at South Central High School and has served North Carolina HOSA as state vice president, district president, and local chapter president. Shayna has been attending and competing at nationals since the 31st annual National Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. As an Outstanding State Leader, she has placed 2nd in Researched Persuasive Speaking at the national level, has received the gold level of the Barbara James Service Award, and has successfully completed the National Recognition Program. Shayna has acquired over 600 volunteer hours by organizing service projects for Autism Speaks, Susan G. Koman for the Cure, and Pitt County AIDS Service Organization.

Aside from being a member of HOSA, Shayna is also involved with her school’s Student Government Association as Student Body President, is a Teen Ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House, tutors her peers weekly, and conducts medical research at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She plans to attend Duke University and later attend medical school to become a primary care physician. Shayna aspires to work with Doctors without Borders and hopes to start her own non-profit organization for AIDS orphans in Africa.

HOSA has helped Shayna discover her passion for helping others and has inspired her to make a positive impact in the world. Shayna’s actions reflect the words of Henry Ford: “To do more for the world than the world does for you-that is success.”

Although the residents in Oklahoma say, “We’re OK”, James is more than just an “okay” member, but has aspired to be one of HOSA’s highest achieving scholarly members. He has written several columns for Men’s, Women’s, and MSN Health, and has even been interviewed by the Today Show for his inspiring journey to save his own life, losing over 300lbs.

James’ greatest achievements include completing the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and the MS150 Cycling tour from Tulsa to Oklahoma City.

James holds two Bachelor Of Science degrees in Clinical Kinesiology and Dietetics respectively, from Northeastern State University, and has had five years of extensive clinical practice.

As a highly sought out consultant in the areas of fitness and nutrition he believes in lifelong education, “if you stop learning - you’re dead,” he says. Currently he is studying to become a Critical Care Nurse.

Seeing the passion of HOSA members reciting the Creed at State Conference, he realized that he too shared the same passion. After a challenging but unquestionably rewarding two years in HOSA, serving as Chapter President and State Vice President, he currently is the voice of the thousands of Post- Secondary/Collegiate members and plans on reaching out to the untapped potential of the nearly two million Alumni members.

James’ amazing story holds true to the words he lives by everyday:
“Lead by example, walk by faith, live with passion.”