Prior to HOSA, North Carolina students participated in VICA. When the Health Occupations Education program grew, the NC HOE supervisor decided to start a new organization for those students interested in the health care field. Health Careers Clubs of North Carolina was organized in 1973. On November 4-7, 1975, through the leadership of the State Department of Education and Division of Vocational Education in New Jersey, eighteen representatives from all six states having statewide health occupations education student organizations met to plan a national leadership organization. Representatives (state officers and state HOE supervisors from the six states which included Alabama, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas) voted to form the American Health Occupations Education Student OrganizationAHOESO (later changed to HOSA). The Inn of the Six Flags in Arlington, Texas, was the site of the exciting Constitutional Convention held November 10-13, 1976 and attended by 384 persons including delegates and advisors from the six states having organized state associations and interested persons from twelve other states. The Convention provided a formal structure for the new student organization. Crucial elements of the organization were formalized. • The name was shortened to "Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)" and bylaws were adopted. • The first set of national officers was elected. Lynne McGee of North Carolina was the first National HOSA President. • National HOSA colors were selected: maroon, medical white, and navy blue, which prevail today. The first National Leadership Conference for HOSA was held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on April 27-30, 1978. The second National Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) conference was held June 26-July 1, 1979, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The third National Conference in Asheville, North Carolina, July 8-12, 1980. The first national HOSA Headquarters was located in Raleigh, North Carolina (November 1976 through spring 1978). After over 20 years of hosting the State Leadership Conference in Greensboro, NC, Charlotte become the new site for SLC 2019. In 2020 the world experienced an unprecedented event called COVID 19 which resulted in a pandemic. Due to COVID, SLC 2020 and 2021 had to be held virtually. In 2022 SLC was able to return to an in person event in Greensboro, NC.