South College Indianapolis partners with HOSA on student skills competition for International Leadership Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2026

South College welcomed top high school and collegiate competitors from around the globe to its Indianapolis campus for skills competitions as part of the 2026 HOSA-Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference that drew thousands to Indianapolis June 17-20.

Student competitors were challenged to exhibit practical skills in Surgical Technology and Respiratory Therapy fields. During the skills assessment at the Indianapolis campus, approximately 60 students demonstrated tasks for judges. The skills were presented in a scenario format allowing members to showcase their abilities in a real-world setting.

“We’re proud to host this competition and showcase our campus’ clinical facilities that help prepare highly skilled healthcare providers,” said Courtney Sechler, campus president for South College Indianapolis. “These partnerships allow us to offer students opportunities to explore a potential future in healthcare and get a glimpse of what that education and profession may entail.”

HOSA-Future Health Professionals held its 50th Anniversary leadership conference at the South College campus and the Indianapolis Convention Center.

At a milestone celebration featuring over 15,000 attendees, 750 volunteer judges, 200 exhibitors, and 175 hands-on workshops, student-members engaged in leadership development through healthcare-focused competitions, speech forums and a dynamic expo.

“At HOSA we are working to meet the rapidly changing health industry.” HOSA Executive Director Bergen Morehouse said. “Our goal is to inspire and equip young people with both leadership and technical skills. We know we need dedicated, people-oriented healthcare professionals to combat projected provider shortages among physicians, nurses, counselors, dentists, pharmacists and more.”

The finalists advanced through a series of regional and/or state evaluations to participate in the international competition. The first round of the competition included a written assessment, with the top scorers advancing to the skills demonstrations. The conference culminated with a formal ceremony to announce winners and scholarship awards.

“We always look for high-quality facilities like South College where our competitors can demonstrate practical skills in modern clinical settings,” Morehouse said.

South College Indianapolis, which opened in 2021, is located at 301 Pennsylvania Parkway, and offers healthcare programs from certificate to bachelor levels across several disciplines. Students may pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees in Health Science and Imaging Science; certificate, associate and bachelor’s degrees in Nursing; certificate and associate degrees in Medical Assisting and associate degree in Surgical Technology.

For more information about South College Indianapolis, visit south.edu/indianapolis.

Across its national footprint, South College offers an array of academic programs in business, education, healthcare and other fields. The institution was founded in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1882 and now includes 10 physical campuses, as well as online and Competency-Based Education (CBE) programs.

About South College

South College serves more than 20,000 students and is proud of its more than 25,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.

South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.

About HOSA Future Health Professionals

HOSA is a global student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration and experience. HOSA actively promotes career opportunities in the health industry to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare to all people. Since its inception in 1976, HOSA has grown to over 320,000 members across the world, including the United States, Canada, China and American Samoa. Learn more about HOSA at hosa.org.