Five students from Red Bay High School had the chance to compete at the Virtual HOSA International Conference after qualifying at the Alabama State Conference.

Red Bay eighth-grader Melee Weaver placed first in the Alabama State Conference in Middle School Prepared Speaking and placed in the top 10 in the Virtual HOSA International Conference.

“There were over 150 students competing in this prepared speaking event for middle school, and China was the top three winners,” said Red Bay HOSA adviser Kay Hargett. “This is absolutely awesome for an eighth-grade student from RBHS, a 2A school, to go against these huge middle schools from across the world.”

Anna Sides also had the opportunity to compete at Virtual HOSA International Conference after placing in the top three at state.

The team of Nova Straub, Connor Humphries and Britley Hardin placed in the top 10 at the international conference for Exploring Medical Innovations, after winning first place at the Alabama State Conference and in the Shoals Spark Competition.

“They competed against students from all over the world and the U.S.,” Hargett said. “This is an awesome achievement for these three seventh-grade students … I am so proud of their accomplishments this year.”

The students designed a device to keep medical tubes connected, which can prevent third degree burns on a patient’s skin.

Humphries said he and his team came up with the idea after his mother had a gastrostomy, and he believed there was an easier way to keep her medical tubes in place.