Milbank Students Qualify for HOSA International Conference

Milbank’s HOSA Chapter had 58 members compete against over 1,000 other students from across South Dakota in the HOSA – Future HealthProfessionals state conference. The event was held at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls on April 16-17. Members competed for the opportunity to attend the 2026 International Leadership Conference to be held in Indianapolis from June 17-20. Thousands of students from across the globe will participate.

Highlights for Milbank also included Debrianna Hicks being elected as the HOSA State Secretary and Keira Steffen receiving a $1,000 scholarship. The Milbank HOSA Chapter received a first-place award in the National Service Project. They also received Outstanding Chapter recognition.

State Placings for MHS Students:
Medical Spelling- First Place- Keira Steffen
Health Career Photography- First Place – Raina Untalan
Job Seeking Skills- First Place- Rylan Wendland
HOSA Bowl – 2nd Place – Kalli Moser, Anna Neugebauer, Debrianna Hicks, and Keira Steffen
CPR/First Aid –  Third  Place – Anna Neugebauer and Evy Liebe
Life Support Skills – Third  Place – Declan Peschong
HOSA Bowl – Third  Place – Kenzie Kooima, Ashlynn Batchelor, Rylan Wendland, and Jacy Dexter
Veterinary Science- Third Place- Kayla Schweer

Johanna Fischer, adviser for the HOSA chapter at MHS said, “I am always incredibly proud of how our students represent Milbank.” She also noted the group is excited to begin raising funds for their trip to Indianapolis.

Milbank Students and Category of Competition:
Esteban Abrego- Health Care Team Event
Naomi Anaya Cruz- Medical Assisting
Thomas Bass- Health Career Display
Ashlynn Batchelor- Physical Therapy, HOSA Bowl Team
Kaitlyn Brandenburger- Medical Spelling
Addison Brown- Dental Terminology, Dental Science
Ana Calel Tomas- Medical Assisting
Armando Chan- Medical Terminology
Dana Chan- Health Care Team Event
Miriam Chavez- Behavioral Health
Jacy Dexter- HOSA Bowl Team, Physical Therapy
Macyn Dunnihoo- Sports Medicine
Isabella Flores- Behavioral Health
Olivia Foell- CPR/First Aid Team, HOSA Bowl Team, Occupational Therapy
Lydia Gall- Clinical Nursing
Rileigh Gapp- Physical Therapy
Alayna Gloe- Behavioral Health
Madai Gomez Herrera- Human Growth and Development
Hallee Green- Clinical Laboratory Science
Kalli Grong- HOSA Bowl Team, Clinical Nursing
Lorn Harstad- Dental Science
Bailee Hendricks- Dental Terminology
Brooke Hendricks- Medical Law and Ethics
Zoee Henrich- Sports Medicine
Zora Henrich- Forensic Science Team, Surgical Technologist
Debrianna Hicks- HOSA Bowl Team, Medical Math, State Officer 
Ava Homrighausen- Behavioral Health
Violet Johnson- Human Growth and Development
Kenzie Kooima- HOSA Bowl Team, Veterinary Science
Lexi Korstjens- Nutrition Test
Paige Korstjens- Medical Math
Evelyn Liebe- CPR/First Aid Team, Physical Therapy
Emir Lopez- Health Care Team
Yuliana Meraz Sanchez- Human Growth and Development
Alexis Meyer- Human Growth and Development
Heyden Montag-Respiratory Therapy
Yani Montes- Dental Terminology, Dental Science
Kalli Moser- HOSA Bowl Team, Family Medicine Physician
Anna Neugebauer- CPR/First Aid Team, Outstanding HOSA Chapter, Medical Terminology, HOSA Bowl Team
Yanderyn Olivares- Medical Terminology
Ethan Owen- Physical Therapy
Jesus Padilla- Health Career Display Team, HOSA Bowl
Declan Peschong- Life Support Skills
Adalynn Roark- Health Care Team Event, Medical Spelling
Colton Roark- Medical Math
Sophia Schuchard- Dental Science, Patient Care Technician
Kylynn Schwandt- Medical Terminology
Estelle Schweer- Health Care Team Event
Kayla Schweer- Veterinary Science, Medical Terminology
Keira Steffen- HOSA Bowl Team, Human Growth and Development, Medical Spelling, Outstanding HOSA Chapter
Charlotte Swanson- Forensic Science
Haley Swenson- CPR/First Aid Team, Dental Science, HOSA Bowl Team
Elyssa Tomac- Clinical Nursing, HOSA Bowl Team
Tayla Trapp- Patient Care Technician, Respiratory Therapy
Raina Untalan- Health Career Photography
Macie VanLith- Nutrition
Fernanda Velazquez- Medical Assisting
Rylan Wendland- Job Seeking Skills, HOSA Bowl

Submitted Photos: Top- State attendees from Milbank HOSA.
Middle photo -State Placers, back row- Rylan Wendland, Kenzie Kooima, Anna Neugebauer, Keira Steffen, Kalli Grong, Kayla Schweer, Declan Peschong. Front Row- Debrianna Hicks, Evelyn Liebe, Ashlynn Batchelor, Raina Untalan, Jacy Dexter.
Bottom photo- 2025-2026 HOSA Officer Team- Ashylnn Batchelor, Kalli Grong, Keira Steffen, Anna Neugebauer, Olivia Foell, Debrianna Hicks and Rylan Wendland.