Student Spotlight: Meet Aliyah Connor and Alyssa Mullins from Our New HOSA Class

As the 2025–2026 school year kicks off, the Bibb County School System’s HOSA program is welcoming a new class of future healthcare professionals. HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) continues to offer students hands-on experiences and career exploration in the medical field, all while based at Bibb Medical Center’s campus.

This semester, we are featuring two seniors from the HOSA program, Aliyah Connor and Alyssa Mullins, who are already making big strides toward their future careers in healthcare.

Aliyah Connor: Exploring the Path to Medicine

Aliyah Connor has always been interested in the medical field. As a child, she wanted to become a veterinarian, but over time, her interest has shifted toward human medicine. Now a senior, Aliyah is considering attending either Shelton State Community College or the University of Alabama after graduation, with the goal of becoming a doctor.

She participated in HOSA during the first semester of last year and is excited to return for more experience. Her favorite part of the program so far has been the tour of Bibb Medical Center, where she and her classmates explored departments like the Emergency Department and Radiology and spoke with professionals about their day-to-day work.

Alyssa Mullins: Discovering Her Place in Healthcare

Alyssa Mullins joined HOSA after hearing about it from friends. Now a senior, she is interested in Radiology or becoming an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). This year, she hopes to job shadow and explore ways to earn college credit through Shelton State.

Alyssa enjoys the field trips and especially how HOSA has created connections between students from both West Blocton and Bibb County high schools. “Bringing Bibb and Blocton together has really stood out to me,” she said. “There’s always been a rivalry, but now we are all finding common ground through our interest in healthcare careers.”

Another highlight for Alyssa was attending Alabama HOSA’s State Leadership Conference last year with a friend. She is hoping to return to the competition again this year.

What to Expect from HOSA

HOSA is a career-focused program designed to give high school students an inside look at the many paths within the healthcare field. Throughout the year, students earn certifications in CPR, First Aid, and OSHA-10, participate in field trips, hear from guest speakers, and explore a wide range of careers through hands-on learning.

Students are exposed to careers such as:

• Nursing

• Radiology

• Laboratory Sciences

• Veterinary Medicine

• Emergency Medical Services

• Dentistry

• Pharmacy

• Therapy Services

• Ophthalmology

• Chiropractic Care

They also take part in real-world events like community health screenings and build career readiness through competitions and training opportunities.

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, HOSA students will begin training for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Patient Care Technician (PCT) roles. Some will also have the opportunity to apply for part-time healthcare jobs through partnerships with Bibb Medical Center while still in high school.

Whether their future is in nursing, medicine, or medical imaging, students like Aliyah and Alyssa are taking the first step through HOSA and building the foundation for successful careers in healthcare.