By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A group of students from Nelson High School is preparing to represent Burlington on the international stage after earning third place at the national HOSA-Future Health Professionals competition in Toronto earlier this spring. HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) Canada is the largest chartered HOSA association outside of the United States.
The team, Audrey Noble, Raia Vallabhaneni, Madeleine Ainsworth, and Alexandra Homorcean, qualified for the international conference in Indianapolis after presenting a community initiative focused on reducing loneliness among seniors in Burlington retirement homes.
Over the past year, the students organized social programs and awareness campaigns aimed at supporting seniors experiencing isolation. Their efforts reached more than 1,000 seniors in local retirement homes and more than 40,000 people through social media outreach.
“We wanted to do something that would actually impact people,” said Noble, a grade 12 student.
The students hosted movie nights, game nights, and social hours at retirement homes across Burlington. Nelson music students also performed live music for residents as part of the initiative.
“One of the main complaints we saw was that people were feeling lonely,” said Ainsworth, a grade 11 student who has experience working in retirement homes. “They didn’t feel like there were enough activities, and they didn’t feel like their families were visiting enough. That really resonated with us because we’re all very close with our grandparents.”
The team also partnered with local elementary schools to teach younger students about the effects of loneliness on seniors. Elementary students created butterfly-themed artwork and handwritten notes that were later delivered to retirement home residents.
The team said the seniors were deeply appreciative of the gestures, noting that even something as simple as a drawing or handwritten note could brighten their day.
In addition to their community work, the students raised awareness through school fundraisers and social media campaigns. Their project also received recognition from Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Burlington MP Karina Gould.
At the national competition in Toronto, the students delivered a five-minute presentation to judges outlining the impact of their campaign and the lessons they learned while leading it. “We all had to speak equally, so it took a lot of coordination,” Noble said. “It was nerve-racking, but you just have to put yourself out there.”
For the team, adapting and learning through challenges became part of the experience. During one of their first retirement home events, the students planned to show The Grinch during a movie night, only to discover the residents were not enjoying it.
“We switched the movie to It’s a Wonderful Life, and immediately everyone loved it,” said Vallabhaneni. “The energy in the room changed completely. We learned that not everything goes according to plan, and you have to adapt based on the people you’re working with.”
The project also strengthened friendships among the students themselves. While some members knew each other beforehand, the group largely came together through Nelson’s HOSA chapter. “We’ve all gotten very close through this,” Ainsworth said. “We’ve learned how to work together and recognize everyone’s strengths.”
The students say the experience has helped them build leadership, communication, and public speaking skills while reinforcing their interest in healthcare careers.
“Even if you’re young, you can make a huge difference,” Vallabhaneni said. “If you’re passionate about something, just put yourself out there and start.”
The team will travel to Indianapolis in the coming weeks to compete at the international HOSA conference, where they will represent both Nelson High School and the Burlington community on a global stage.
