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First Flight Middle and High School HOSA teams and chaperones at the HOSA State Leadership Conference in Greensboro.
Students from First Flight Middle School and First Flight High School earned top honors at the 2026 HOSA-Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference, with one student finishing among the nation's top competitors at the international competition.
Nearly 5,000 middle and high school students from across North Carolina competed in the HOSA State Leadership Conference, where First Flight Middle and High School chapter members demonstrated exceptional knowledge and skills in a variety of health science events. Their success highlights the strength of Dare County Schools' Career and Technical Education (CTE) Health Science programs and the opportunities available to students interested in healthcare careers.
This year's competition featured the largest group of Dare County Schools students to participate in the state conference. At First Flight High School, 10 of the 14 HOSA club members attended the competition for the first time. First Flight Middle School also made an impressive debut, with six of its nine first-time competitors placing among the top 15 in the state.
Top Performers at HOSA State Competition
Top 5 in the State
- Mamie Zheng (8th grade) – 3rd place, Health Career Exploration
- Josh Gray (11th grade) – 5th place, Sports Medicine
- Ava Daniels (11th grade) – 5th place, Nursing Assisting
Top 10 in the State
- Lola Chovaz (6th grade) – Veterinary Science
- Marin Farmer and Malia Crockett (7th grade) – Life-Threatening Situations
- Hope Mascio (8th grade) and Grace Mascio (6th grade) – Dynamic Decisions
- Behr Ladd – 6th place, General Chemistry
- Kyleena and Ophelia Threewitt – 9th place, CPR/First Aid Skills Demo
Top 15 in the State
- Peyton Hudson (7th grade) – Life-Threatening Situations
- Elise Kingston (8th grade) – Public Speaking
Following her top-five finish at the state conference, Ava Daniels, a rising senior at First Flight High School, advanced to the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Indianapolis. Competing against students from across the country and around the world, Daniels placed fifth nationally in Nursing Assisting and seventh in the National Geographic & Academic Testing Center sponsored test in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Ava Daniels competing at the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Indianapolis.
Eighth-grader Mamie Zheng also qualified for the international competition after earning third place in the Health Career Exploration event at the state competition. Although she was unable to attend due to a prior commitment, qualifying at the international level is a significant accomplishment.
Students prepared for the competitions over several months by studying health science concepts, medical terminology, clinical skills and problem-solving strategies. Competitive events included written exams, hands-on skills demonstrations and scenario-based challenges in areas such as CPR/First Aid, medical math and patient care.
The First Flight HOSA chapters are led by Health Science Instructor Jennifer Kovacs, RN, BSN, with assistance at the First Flight Middle chapter provided by Career and Technical Education Coordinator Ashley Basnight as co-adviser.
"Proud is an understatement when it comes to how I feel about these bright, kind and enthusiastic students!" said Kovacs.
Dare County Schools also extends its appreciation to volunteers Dr. Matthew Chovaz, Cassidy Mascio and Scott Gray for supporting students throughout the competition season.
The 2026 HOSA State Leadership Conference was held March 25–27 in Greensboro, celebrating the organization's 50th anniversary. The 49th HOSA International Leadership Conference was held June 17–20 in Indianapolis, Indiana, bringing together approximately 15,000 future health professionals, advisers and chaperones for competitions, leadership development and career exploration opportunities.
First Flight Middle School team at the HOSA State Leadership Conference.