American Heart Association Honors Champions in Fight Against Childhood Obesity
TL;DR
The American Heart Association's awards program provides recognition opportunities for schools and educators to gain competitive advantages in community health leadership and funding.
The American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs use science-based approaches to teach nutrition, stress management, and CPR skills to students.
These award-winning programs create healthier communities by teaching children lifelong wellness habits and empowering them to make positive health changes for everyone.
Children as young as 12 can effectively perform Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill taught through these innovative school health challenges.
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The American Heart Association has honored nine students, schools, and educators from across the United States for their outstanding efforts in combating rising childhood obesity rates and promoting heart and brain health in educational settings. The virtual awards ceremony on November 20 recognized participants in the Association's nationwide school programs, Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, which reach more than 10 million students annually in approximately 20,000 U.S. schools.
Childhood obesity represents a significant public health concern, with one in five American children and teens currently classified as obese—a 35% increase since 2000. During this same period, severe childhood obesity rates have nearly doubled according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These alarming trends underscore the importance of the recognized individuals' work in creating healthier classroom environments and communities.
"Alarming health trends like rising childhood obesity are challenges we can work to overcome together, and we are proud to honor those who are doing just that," said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association. "These students, educators and schools aren't just raising critical funds; they're inspiring healthier habits and creating lasting change in their communities."
The 2025 honorees included Dr. Nicole Wesley of Redondo Beach Unified School District in California as Superintendent of the Year, Rob Dorsett from Perryville High School in Maryland as Outstanding American Heart Challenge Volunteer of the Year, and Zachary Barrows of Summerlake Elementary in Florida receiving the Heart-Healthy School Award. Other recipients included Marline Price from Baton Rouge, Louisiana as Outstanding Kids Heart Challenge Volunteer of the Year, Natalie Wheeler of New York City's Community School District 22 receiving the Open-Door Award, and the team of Jon Curtis and Amy Wolske from Greenfield Elementary in Wisconsin as Outstanding Team of the Year.
The programs honored during the ceremony are grounded in scientific principles and designed to improve both physical and emotional well-being while supporting academic success. Participants learn critical health skills including proper nutrition, stress management techniques, tobacco and vaping avoidance, and recognition of heart attack and stroke warning signs. Students also receive training in Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill that children as young as 12 can effectively administer during cardiac emergencies.
The awards celebration highlighted how local initiatives can create meaningful impact against national health challenges. By recognizing excellence in health education and promotion, the American Heart Association aims to inspire broader participation in programs that address the childhood obesity epidemic while building foundation for lifelong health habits.
Curated from NewMediaWire
