Douglas County High School Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) officers recently attended the 2026 Georgia Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) Legislative Expo at the State Capitol, where they gained firsthand experience with government in action.
Officers Kayli Young, J'Seema Hendrickson, Jariah Henry and Zariyah Holmes met with Mary Lauren Golden, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock's Outreach Representative for Northwest Georgia, and shared the impact of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education programs and the importance of continued funding for student opportunities.
They also shared a brochure about the HOSA program at DCHS.
"Attending the Legislative Expo showed us that our voices matter," said Hendrickson, who serves as the DCHS HOSA vice president. "We were able to represent over 213,000 CTAE students and explain why HOSA and healthcare education are so important. It made us proud to advocate for our school and our future careers in healthcare."
DCHS HOSA advisor Georgia Thomasson added that the expo was a "transformative experience" for her officers, allowing them to step beyond the classroom and advocate for CTAE at the state level.
"They gained confidence, professionalism, and a deeper understanding of how funding and legislation directly impact their future careers in healthcare," Thomasson said. "This experience empowered them to see themselves not just as students, but as leaders and changemakers."