Students compete at international conference

Rising Vernon Township High School seniors Avery Crafton and Sophie Van Den Broek won the opportunity to compete in the 2023 Future Health Professionals of America (HOSA) International Leadership Conference.

They represented New Jersey in June at the Dallas Convention Center.

Both are members of the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Vernon Township Ambulance Squad and HOSA, a student and professional organization whose mission is to educate future health-care providers and promote career opportunities within the industry.

Lead by teacher Matthew Bergh, team members Marissa Ajamian and Daniel Lovett placed second in the Emergency Medical Technician competition for speed and quality of care, and Crafton and Van Den Broek placed third in the First Aid/CPR competition for speed and accuracy.

This is the first year that Vernon won a place in the HOSA-New Jersey state competition.

At the conference, Crafton and Van Den Broek were to participate in events to test their health-care knowledge and skills as well as attend classes and lectures. They also completed course work and state testing to be fully certified as New Jersey emergency medical technicians.

All four students won positions at the conference. Only Crafton and Van Den Broek made the trip because the conference was during the high school’s graduation.