Four students attend leadership academy

Four Valencia High School students in the Medical Sciences Academy traveled to the nation’s capital this month to participate in the HOSA Washington Leadership Academy for future health professionals.

Lindsay Whalen and Kate Jetter, two Hart District juniors, joined sophomores Joy Peters and Tori Vatcher in Washington D.C., where the students attended several workshops on leadership, cultural understanding and communication, Hart District spokesman Dave Caldwell said.

The group also had a chance to tour historical monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Jefferson Monument and others that surround the National Mall area, but the culminating event of the educational trip was speaking with representatives from Congressman Steve Knight's staff, Caldwell said.

During the meeting, the students shared their prior experiences with Hart District career technical education classes taught through the Medical Sciences Academy before they suggested that Congress continue to fund similar career courses and training in the future.

“Overall, the students walked away from this experience having gained knowledge about their leadership potential, how they can build positive relationships and how to affect policy at a state and national level, which is knowledge they can use personally, professionally and academically now and in their future medical careers,” Caldwell said.