Two high-achieving students, Ashley Jennings from Gulf Shores High School in Alabama and Brenda Thomas from Copperas Cove High School in Texas, have been recognized for their accomplishments in the HOSA - Future Health Professionals Patient Care Technician (PCT) competition, sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Both students were featured in their local newspapers after being awarded top honors for their performance in this rigorous event. The competition included both a written test on topics such as patient care, phlebotomy, and infection control, as well as hands-on assessment of patient care skills designed to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Brenda, a 2025 graduate and valedictorian of Copperas Cove High School, also claimed first place in her PCT competition. For Brenda, who is now attending the University of Texas at Austin to become a registered nurse, her HOSA experiences gave her the hands-on preparation she needed to be successful in the competition and in her future career.
“Because I was already pursuing my PCT certification through NHA, I felt prepared – but the real value was learning how to bring empathy and emotional care into every skill,” Brenda said in an interview with Copperas Cove Leader.
Ashley, a 2025 graduate of Gulf Shores High School, won her local PCT competition, which included both a written test and hands-on scenarios. In an interview with Gulf Coast Media, Ashley said that “her coursework combined with the competition gave her the confidence to pursue her first job in the field,” emphasizing the importance of HOSA’s partnership with the NHA to develop the next generation of healthcare leaders. Shortly after her graduation, Ashley stepped into the role of a patient care technician and plans to one day be a nurse practitioner.
At a time when we need more healthcare professionals, competitive events like this give passionate learners a chance to develop leadership skills and gain clinical experience, so they feel prepared to further their education and advance a career in healthcare.
Read the full article on Brenda:
Read the full article on Ashley: