UH Hilo students compete at statewide health leadership competition, bring home medals
Five UH Hilo students competed at the event; Vivien Niomi Corpuz and Lexy Kaye Ramos won medals for their Public Service Announcement.
By Susan Enright.
Six students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo participated in the 2025 Hawaiʻi HOSA State Leadership Conference, February 17-19, at the Honolulu Convention Center.
HOSA is a global student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services and several federal and state agencies. HOSA’s mission is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience.
HOSA Future Health Professionals is an international organization with more than 250,000 members and 2.5 million alumni. It was established in Hawaiʻi in 2005 and has grown to more than 1,700 members. UH Hilo has the largest number of post-secondary HOSA members in Hawaiʻi, highlighting the strong commitment to offering students valuable opportunities to grow and succeed in the healthcare field.
The Hawaiʻi HOSA State Leadership Conference held in February provided UH Hilo students with an opportunity to test their skills in various healthcare-related events while engaging in leadership workshops and networking.
“Attending the Hawaiʻi HOSA State Leadership Conference for the second time in a row was definitely one of the best experiences that I will always look forward to every year,” says Mark Niko Casimiro, a sophomore majoring in chemistry and current president of UH Hilo HOSA. “It is more than just a conference, it was a like a family to me. Ever since I became part of HOSA, I knew that this organization will change me a lot, through both personal and professional growth.”
“This time around, our team was stronger than ever, and I could see how much we have grown not just as members but as friends,” he adds.
The participants competed in challenging events that tested their knowledge, technical skills, and critical thinking, representing UH Hilo with professionalism, dedication, and excellence, according to a media release.
The UH Hilo students competed in the following competitive events:
- Vivien Niomi Corpuz, a freshman in pre-nursing, and Lexy Kaye Ramos, a freshman majoring in biology, won medals for their Public Service Announcement.
- Mark Niko Casimiro, a sophomore majoring in chemistry, competed in Medical Terminology
- Leiya Torrano, a junior majoring in business, competed in Medical Law and Ethics
- Princess “Tanya” Respicio, a junior in pre-nursing, competed in Human Growth and Development.
John Lewis Maneja, a freshman in pre-nursing, did not compete but played a crucial role at the conference as a volunteer, providing quality assistance throughout the entire event.
After competing in their respective events, the students contributed their time and energy to the success of the conference setting up rooms, managing exam timekeeping, and lunch distribution, playing a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of the event.
According to the release, the students’ teamwork and dedication helped create an environment where future healthcare leaders could thrive and excel. “It would not have been the same without the additional helping hands from our students.”
UH Hilo HOSA advisors are Lark Morin currently with UH System Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, and Jarred Prudencio from UH Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.
Looking ahead, the UH Hilo HOSA team next competes in the 2025 HOSA International Leadership Conference June 18-21, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Story by Susan Enright, a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories.
