HCVSD Academy Student Advances in HOSA Competition

FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Ava Triano, a junior at Hunterdon County Vocational School District’s Biomedical Sciences Academy (BSA), recently placed second in the highly competitive Dental Science event at the New Jersey HOSA State Leadership Conference. Triano’s performance has earned her an invitation to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference, which will be held virtually again this year due to COVID-19.

HOSA, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America, provides leadership development, motivation and recognition exclusively for students in high school and beyond who are enrolled in health science and biomedical science programs. HOSA’s International Leadership Conference typically is held in-person, but this year’s virtual event will continue to provide students with access to educational and networking opportunities, in addition to competitive events covering many areas of interest within the broad healthcare field.

Triano chose the Dental Event for a good reason. “I hope to become an oral/maxillofacial surgeon, which of course involves a great deal of dental science,” she said.

She credits the BSA’s HOSA Chapter leaders, Dew Dutta, Maya Schaeflein and Prerna Shankar, as well as advisor and BSA instructor Dr. Donna Badgwell, with her second-place finish at the state conference. Triano said they provided her with support through the many resources they shared with her – as well as with words of encouragement.

“I also work as a dental hygienist’s assistant, so I had access to other knowledge and resources that helped me succeed in my event,” Triano added. Her experiences competing at the regional and state levels have given her a better understanding of where to focus her time and energy when further preparing for the International event. That final level of competition begins on June 23.

“Ava is taking deliberate steps toward a successful future through her enrollment in a focused and academically challenging program like our four-year Biomedical Sciences Academy, as well as her subsequent efforts to get involved in clubs like HOSA,” said Jane Griesinger, director of curriculum and supervisor of Academies at HCVSD. “She seeks out experiences that further her learning and allow her to explore health sciences careers outside of the classroom. She has clearly found a passion to become an oral surgeon and is well on her way to making that career goal a reality.”

To learn more about HCVSD’s Biomedical Sciences Academy, visit https://bsa.hcvsd.org/.

Triano is a resident of Hampton and is the daughter of Erin Gries and Todd Triano.

Hunterdon County Vocational School District offers three full-time, science-based Academies: the Biomedical Sciences Academy (BSA), the Computer Science & Applied Engineering Academy (CSAEA) and the Environmental Sustainability & Engineering Academy (ESEA). The district’s largest school is Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School, a shared-time high school that prepares students for a seamless transition to college and career paths. HCVSD also operates an Adult & Continuing Education school. Learn more at www.hcvsd.org.

All pupils will be given equal opportunity for enrollment in programs operated by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status (34 C.F.R. Part 100, Appendix B, Section IV-A). No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity which receives federal financial assistance, et seq (34 C.F.R. Part 104.4(a)(b).