NMMI Cadets Advance to Internationals After Strong Finish at 2026 HOSA State Conference
Cadets from the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) delivered an outstanding and highly competitive performance at the 2026 Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) – Future Health Professionals State Leadership Conference in Albuquerque. Competing against top students from across New Mexico, NMMI cadets achieved remarkable success in both individual and team events, further underscoring the institute’s strong commitment to excellence, leadership, and innovation in health science education.
Outstanding Individual and Team Performances
Sooah Kim
• Dental Terminology – 1st Place
Tianxing Li
• Forensic Science (Team) – Top 5 State Finalist
• Medical Math – 2nd Place
Andres Clouthier
• Medical Terminology – 2nd Place
• Biomedical Debate (Team) – 2nd Place
Henry Rylee Vincent
• Pharmacy Science (Skills) – 2nd Place
• Pharmacology – 2nd Place
Seowon Jung
• Medical Law and Ethics – 1st Place
• Biomedical Debate (Team) – 2nd Place
Jonathan Huang Yu
• Forensic Science (Team) – 1st Place
• Human Growth and Development – 1st Place
Roberto Meza Carrasco
• Forensic Science (Team) – 1st Place
• Pharmacology – 1st Place
Oliver Beltran
• Forensic Science (Team) – Top 5 State Finalist
• Medical Terminology – 1st Place
Amarina Rai
• Biomedical Debate (Team) – 2nd Place
• World Health Disparities – 2nd Place
• Dental Science (Skills) – 1st Place
Brett Doke
• Medical Law and Ethics – 3rd Place
• Physical Therapy (Skills) – 2nd Place
Leon Villaraza (IPA Middle School)
• Math for Health Careers – Top 5 State Finalist
• Health Career Preparation – 2nd Place
As part of their outstanding achievements, Cadets Henry Rylee Vincent and Brett Doke will be awarded scholarships from Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in recognition of their exceptional performance in Pharmacy Science and Physical Therapy, respectively.
Senior cadets Oliver Beltran, Jonathan Huang Yu, Colin Zhang, Sylvia Xu, and Andrew To were also formally recognized for their leadership and commitment to mentoring and developing future HOSA members.
HOSA Advisor Maj. Beaune Villaraza was recognized with the 15 Years of Educator Service Award, a testament to his sustained excellence, dedication, and impact in advancing health science education and student leadership.
All cadets who placed in the Top 3 have earned qualification for the HOSA International Leadership Conference. This prestigious global event will bring together more than 12,000 students, educators, and healthcare professionals from around the world.
Participation in HOSA empowers cadets to develop leadership, strengthen academic excellence, and gain meaningful exposure to healthcare careers. The NMMI community proudly celebrates the hard work, discipline, and exceptional accomplishments of these future healthcare leaders.
