Kansas Kirk and Kara Shaddix represented the Shelby County School of Technology and Alabama at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 24-30, 2013.  Kansas Kirk is currently serving as the Alabama HOSA Vice-President and was recognized at the conference for completion of the National Recognition Program. Kara Shaddix was a national competitor in Job Seeking Skills. In addition to the competitions, the students attended leadership academies, a tour of Vanderbilt University, annual business sessions, state meetings, educational symposiums, and had the opportunity to meet people across the United States and Puerto Rico with similar career goals. A highlight of the conference was hearing the keynote speaker, Dr. Ben Carson, nationally known neurosurgeon and author.