Bedford County Schools announced Wednesday that Community High School student Maria Castellano was voted the 2022-2023 president-elect for Tennessee HOSA-Future Health Professionals. This is the first time for BCS to have an officer serving at the HOSA state level.  

 Castellano was elected by voting delegates during the 2022 Tennessee HOSA State Leadership Conference. As a candidate, Castellano prepared and presented a speech as well as conducted a campaign during the conference.  

 She said one of her favorite aspects about being in HOSA is working with other HOSA members as well as others to have success.  

 “I love helping people and that’s one of the things I get to do as just a chapter president. I love working with Mrs. [Kaycee] Martin closely. It's very helpful. I feel like one of the things I really enjoy doing is getting out and helping the public and going to do things with them.” 

 Castellano said she wants to attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and major in pre-med with the intent to become a pediatric surgeon.  

 “I love working with kids and... the things that I’ve learned about, there’s just this desire to want to help people and to help change the world with saving lives,” Castellano said. She has a grandmother and a couple aunts who are CNAs, which has served as inspiration to go into the medical field. 

 But Castellano said the biggest key to her success is following through. “It’s like this door was open for me and I had set my mind that I wanted to do this. So, I had this mindset that I was going to go in and come out a success.”  

 Day to day, she said what keeps her going is the desire to do better every day. Outside of HOSA, Castellano is in the National Honors Society and is a worship leader at Gateway Church. 

 “One thing I always say to myself is don’t think you can’t do it because you always can. You just have to put your mind to it,” she said. 

 “As her teacher and HOSA advisor, I am extremely proud of Maria’s accomplishments,” said CHS teacher Kaycee Martin. “I’ve watched her grow tremendously as a student and as a leader since her first off-campus HOSA event in October 2021. Maria’s involvement since then has been instrumental in developing her future as a state officer.” 

 Principal Dr. Robert Ralston said, “Community High School is pleased with all of the students’ success at the conference and especially Maria's selection as the president-elect. We are excited to see what other opportunities will be found for HOSA through Maria and with the leadership of Mrs. Martin. I am very pleased with Maria’s accomplishment and what this means for our school and our county as well.” 

 Other CHS HOSA student placements at the state conference included Joshua Eslick, top 5 recognition in Academic Testing Center –Leadership; Emily Kirkman, top 5 recognition in Academic Testing Center –Occupational Health and Safety; Morgan McCool, 4th place in the Research Poster event; Jessica Lawwell, top 5 recognition in the HOSA Happenings event.