Ava Souliere earns first place in pathophysiology and advances to international competition
By Nathalie Mason
A Haas Hall Rogers scholar is heading to an international competition after earning first place at the Arkansas HOSA State Leadership Conference. Ava Souliere placed first in the pathophysiology event, which focuses on the biological processes involved in disease and injury. Her win now qualifies her to compete at the HOSA international Leadership Conference this summer.
“HOSA is a global club that is geared toward future health care professionals,” said HOSA sponsor Nurse Huddleston. “Each year, members select an individual or group event that focuses on a specific area within health care and spend the school year preparing.”
This year’s Arkansas HOSA conference was the largest in the organization’s state history, making Souliere’s accomplishment even more significant.
Despite the impressive outcome, Souliere explained that it was completely unexpected. “To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to place, let alone win,” Souliere said.
Before the competition even began, Souliere experienced an unexpected setback when her testing sheet had not been printed while other competitors had already started. “The anxiety that I felt waiting for that sheet was intense,” she said. “The testing room was filled with people who were older than me, people who had taken the test before and people who had probably studied more than me.”
Once the issue was resolved and she began the test, her anxiety faded. “My confidence rose, as I felt quite sure of some questions,” Souliere said.
After completing the exam, Souliere attended demonstrations at the conference, including presentations about coronary artery bypass grafting and blood donation. These experiences reminded her why she enjoys studying science.
“I’ve always gravitated toward science, and the workings of the body are deeply fascinating to me,” Souliere said.
Souliere believes her curiosity about science played a large role in her success. “I felt like I didn’t study very much because I wasn’t trying to,” she said. “I was just reading about what I have a passion for.”
The following day at the awards ceremony, Souliere waited nervously as the winners were announced.
When her name appeared on the screen, she initially believed she had placed second. However as the winners were announced, she realized she had actually taken first place.
“As it dawned upon me that I had won, my name was called,” Souliere said. “The feeling was truly surreal.”
Even through the bright stage lights, she could see the shapes of fellow Haas Hall Rogers HOSA members standing and applauding.
“That brought a smile to my face,” she said.
The Haas Hall Rogers HOSA team also had other students competing at the conference. According to Huddleston, students Liam Ziimmerman, Puneethen Thirunavukkarasu, and Alex Schwartz spent the year developing a medical innovation for their event.
“They came up with an incredible medical innovation with real-life application,” she said. “It was so fun getting to hear their ideas form and see their product develop.”
Overall, the trip was successful for the school’s HOSA team. “The trip was a huge success and I am so proud of all those that attended,” Huddleston said. “I hope Haas Hall Rogers continues to have a deep interest in medicine and health care and that our club grows.”
For Souliere, the experience taught an important lesson. “Everyone is capable of doing hard things, even if they don’t feel that way,” she said. “Passion is the most important ingredient for success.”
