GHS students show their mettle as health science competitors

Although the Wisconsin HOSA-Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, 11 Grafton High School students have still earned state honors.

In February, Grafton students participated in at regional competition at Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Pharmacy. Results from all six regional contests were used to determine state placements, GHS science teacher Fran Grant said.

Taking first-place honors were Leah McKelvey in pharmacy science and Valeria Loshak in medical photography. The team of Sophia Scolman, Lexi Garbrisch and Isabella Colon took first for a public-service announcement concerning the use of tourniquets.

Placing second were Isabella Fischer in biomedical science and Drew Windsor for research in persuasive writing.

The team of Brianna Rapp and Taylor Wenten finished third in medical innovation for developing a blood-testing prototype. 

Jehan Kalad placed fifth in medical photography. 

McKelvey also took home the Barbara James Gold Award for completing more than 250 hours of community service, and Kristen VanRyzin received a bronze award for doing more than 100 hours of service work.

Students who finished in the top three at the state level qualified for the International Leadership Conference in Dallas in June.