October 7, 2026
Story by Barton Communications
Courtesy photo submitted
Barton Community College’s Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Future Health Professionals chapter has been awarded $2,000 through the Kansas HOSA Rural Chapter Grant Program as part of the Rural Health Transformation Plan.
The funding will support activities that expand opportunities for Barton students to participate in HOSA, explore healthcare careers, and connect with healthcare professionals and organizations.
The grant adds to a growing list of accomplishments for Barton HOSA. In 2025, all five competing Barton students qualified for the HOSA International Leadership Conference, where all finished among the top seven in their respective events.
In 2026, Barton students earned multiple first-place finishes at the Kansas State Leadership Conference and qualified for international competition, where all five finished in the top 10 and Hannah Dapogny earned an international gold medal in Clinical Nursing.
Barton HOSA is led by Director of Barton’s Medical Laboratory Technician Program Karen Gunther. Gunther was named Chapter Advisor of the Year in 2025 and recognized for 10 years of service as a HOSA advisor. She also serves at the international level through HOSA’s Competitive Event Committee and received an International Competitive Event Service Award of Excellence in 2025.
“This funding will give our students even more opportunities to explore healthcare careers, build leadership skills, and connect with professionals working in the field,” she said. “Those experiences are especially important as we encourage students to consider careers that can help meet healthcare needs in our rural communities.”
Interest in the Rural Chapter Grant Program was strong, with 13 chapters requesting a combined $26,000 from the $20,000 available. Funding was allocated with the goal of supporting as many eligible chapter projects as possible.
Grant-funded activities will continue through Sept. 30, 2027, with an emphasis on student engagement, HOSA participation, healthcare career exploration, and connections with healthcare professionals and organizations.
HOSA-Future Health Professionals is a global, student-led organization dedicated to empowering future health professionals through education, collaboration, and experience.
To learn more about HOSA and Barton Community College, please visit: https://bartonccc.edu/studentlife/clubs.