Cedar Park’s aspiring medical professionals, known collectively as HOSA, swept State, with many members set to compete at Nationals June 25-28 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

In Creative Problem Solving, seniors Lindsey Stawowy, Connie Zhao, Katerina Lee and Sydney Tran took fifth place and will compete at Nationals.

Chapter reporter senior Christina Loera received acknowledgment for the “HOSA Happenings” newsletter and will advance to Nationals.

Also advancing to Nationals, juniors Emily Ismail and Alina Tang placed second in Community Emergency Response Team, known as CERT.

Taking first place, sophomores Zach Vessels and Maria Tangarova, and juniors Nina Hoyt and Nathan Vu will compete in Public Health at Nationals as a team.

As Chapter and State President, Stawowy, who hopes to become an OB/GYN, is excited to lead her team at Nationals.

“It’s been a long road to get to nationals,” Stawowy said. “I think we’re all excited to perform at such a high level.”

Along with being excited about going to Disney World, Vessels is also anxious to compete.

“I’m nervous about how we will do,” Vessels said. “Since we have a live performance, I’m worried about forgetting my lines.”

Since Loera, who hopes to major in Biomedical Engineering and attend medical school so she can become an oncological surgeon, doesn’t have to compete again, she feels less pressure.

“For the most part, I’ll be cheering on my friends,” Loera said. “The most nerve-wracking part will be finding out how I did.”

For Stawowy, competition is about more than winning.

“I love being part of such a great team,” Stawowy said. “Competition has helped make HOSA fun and exciting and reminds me of how much I aspire to have a career in medicine.”