14 MHS Students Punch Tickets to HOSA Nationals 

“It’s Milbank’s largest group ever!” says Johanna Fischer, adviser to the 14 HOSA students who punched their tickets to the 2025 HOSA International Leadership Conference. The event will be held June 18-21 in Nashville, Tennessee. Over 10,000 students from around the world will participate.

MHS Students who qualified include Kayla Schweer, Kenzie Kooima, Jacy Dexter, Kalli Grong, Ashlynn Batchelor, Ella Sandvig, Max Schuelke, Jericho Jones, Gemma Street, Kaia Tillotson, Jaiden Tillotson, Raina Untalan, Claire Snaza, and Siera Wenzl. 

This is big news, but it wasn’t the only excitement for Milbank during South Dakota’s  10th Annual State Leadership Conference for HOSA- Future Health Professionals held  April 10 -11. The Milbank Chapter also won first place for their National Service Project “Be the Match” fundraiser. The group took home a bronze award for  their Barbara James Service project – the Kimber Downes fundraiser. Also, this year, Mrs. Fischer won the distinction of Outstanding Local Chapter Adviser. To top things off, Gemma Street and Ella Sandvig each earned a scholarship.

Events were held at Sanford Pentagon, Sanford Fieldhouse, the University of South Dakota- Sioux Falls Campus, and Southeast Technical College. Over 800 attendees competed in over 55 events and 40 breakout sessions.The students were also given the opportunity to go on 12 tours, visit the college and career fair, hear speakers, and attend the banquet and Grand Awards session.

MHS Individual Awards: 

Veterinary Science – Second Place-
Kayla Schweer

HOSA Bowl – Second Place
Jacy Dexter
Kalli Grong
Ashlynn Batchelor
Kenzie Kooima

Biomedical Debate – First Place
Ella Sandvig
Gemma Street
Max Schuelke
Jericho Jones

Health Career Display – Second Place
Kaia Tillotson
Jaiden Tillotson

Health Career Photography – First  Place
Raina Untalan

Pharmacology – First  Place
Claire Snaza

Pathophysiology – Third  Place
Siera Wenzl

Submitted Photos: Top- left to right, Kenzie Kooima, Claire Snaza, Max Schuelke, Kai Tillotson, Jaden Tillotson and Kayla Schweer.
Front row: Ella Sandvig, Siera Wenzl, Gemma Street, Kalli Grong, Raina Untalan, Jacy Dexter, Ashlynn Batchelor and Jericho Jones.