Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Students earn honors in health-related program

Students from Coeur d’Alene, Lakeland and Post Falls school districts were recently announced as Health Occupation Students of America winners at the 10th annual state HOSA competition held earlier this month in Boise. More than 360 students from 25 schools attended the conference, to compete in health-related events.

The students are a part of the Riverbend Health Professions program at Riverbend Professional Technical Academy in Post Falls.

Kelsey Walker, of Lakeland High School, placed first in interviewing skills under the individual leadership category, and she placed second in personal care in the written and skills category.

Jamie Harster, of Lakeland, was awarded second place in pathophysiology in the written tests and spelling bees, knowledge tests category. Jessica Columbini, of Lakeland, placed third in Health Care Concepts under the same category.

Justin Peterson, of Lake City High School, received second place honors in pharmacology in the written tests and spelling bees, knowledge tests category. Peterson has also been elected as the Region 1 Idaho-HOSA vice president for 2009-’10. In his position, he will plan and help lead the state HOSA conferences. He will attend Riverbend during the upcoming school year, taking a pharmacy technician course.

For more information, call Riverbend at (208) 769-5960.

Arbor Day art chosen

Sierra Magnuson, a student at Coeur d’Alene High School, was awarded first-place in the art design contest, chosen for the buttons and T-shirts during Arbor Day events last week. Rachael Uecke, of Lake City High School, received second-place honors, and Jordan Tomten, of Coeur d’Alene High School, was awarded third place.

The annual button art contest is open to middle school and high school students who live within the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Lakeland school districts. The final judging is done by three classrooms of fourth-grade students.

Magnuson will receive a check for $75, a T-shirt featuring her artwork, and Arbor Day buttons featuring her artwork. Uecke will receive a check for $50 and buttons made from her art work. Tomten will receive a $25 check and buttons featuring Tomten’s artwork.

Other students were also finalists in the art design contest, all from Coeur d’Alene High School. Finalists included Brianna Berg, Taylor Campbell, Kelsey Coulter, Jenna Guswiler and J. Kane. All will receive buttons featuring their own artwork.

Artists from three schools and one home-school student participated in the Arbor Day Button Art contest. Post Falls High School student Jaclyn Hitchcock was noted as top entry.

Rainey Coffin can be reached at (509) 927-2166 or via e-mail at raineyc@spokesman.com