On February 9, the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) held their annual Valentine’s AHA charity dinner. This dinner helped raise money for the American Heart Association. During the event, there were many fun and interactive activities, including various games with prizes, dancing, and dinner. 

Upon students’ arrival, they were greeted by fellow teachers and peers. The cafeteria was decorated with Valentine-themed flowers, balloons, and streamers. At the start of the event, students were introduced to Bachata, which is a traditional Dominican Republic dance. Bachata is a three-step dance, and students and faculty learned from professional instructors. Attendees danced alongside classmates, which created a joyful mood throughout the event. 

“It was such an enjoyable evening with some of my closest friends! The dancing was so fun, and I met so many new people,” said sophomore Shriya Sriram. 

After dancing, students were able to play in various game stations designed for Valentine’s Day. There was a Valentine’s ring toss station, a chopstick game, and a guessing game. All games were Valentine’s Day themed, as the cards for the guessing game had hearts and teddy bears. There were many prizes students were able to win. Prizes included Hershey Kisses chocolate, Valentine-themed pens, and candles. The games were very engaging and captured students’ excitement throughout the event. Apart from games, students were able to take photos with Valentine’s Day-themed balloons and Valentine-themed headwear. 

“The dinner was great! There were different games and fun activities to keep us entertained,” said sophomore Jia Fletcher. “The food was good, and it was overall a good experience to hang out with my friends.”

Students eagerly waited for dinner, the highlight of the event. There was a wide variety of choices to choose from, including donuts, cookies, biryani, samosas, penne alla vodka, pastries, tacos, salad, and fried rice. This excellent food was catered from various restaurants such as P.F. Chang’s, Sunmerry Bakery, Saravana Bhavan, Mr. Subs, Shalimar, Shahnawaz Palace, Olive Garden, and Taco Bell. 

HOSA members and the board put in an immense amount of effort in preparation for this event. For example, the executive board spent a lot of time decorating the cafeteria, calling restaurants, and organizing the dancing. Throughout the week, HOSA members also donated different food, prizes, and decorations for the event. 

“The AHA dinner was a huge success, we had a large turnout and it wouldn’t have been possible without the donations and support of our members,” said HOSA historian Mahi Mahitcha. 

Overall, the AHA charity dinner was a hit. Students were able to enjoy great food and games with friends while celebrating Valentine’s Day and supporting a good cause.