One in five children and teens in America are obese. This is up 35% since 2000, as rates of severe childhood obesity have nearly doubled in that time. In recognition of efforts to stand up locally to create healthier classrooms and communities, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, honored nine students, schools and educators from across the country during a virtual awards ceremony on November 20.
The ceremony – held annually to recognize outstanding participants in the Association’s national programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ – featured volunteers and students from across the United States and honored outstanding individuals and schools for their contributions to advancing the Association’s lifesaving work.
Worrying health trends like rising childhood obesity are challenges we can work to overcome together, and we’re proud to honor those who are doing just that. These students, teachers and schools are not only raising critical funds. inspire healthier habits and create lasting change in their communities.”
Stacey E. Rosen, MD, FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and senior vice president for women’s health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health of Northwell Health, New York
Award recipients participated in either the Kids Heart Challenge or the American Heart Challenge during the 2024-25 school year and were nominated by Association staff.
The honorees for 2025 are:
- Superintendent of the Year: Dr. Nicole Wesley – Redondo Beach Unified School District (Redondo Beach, CA)
- American Heart Challenge Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: Rob Dorsett – Perryville High School (Perryville, Maryland
- Heart-Healthy School Award: Zachary Barrows – Summerlake Elementary (Winter Garden, Florida)
- Outstanding Volunteer of the Year at Kids Heart Challenge: Marline Price – Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
- Open-Door Award: Natalie Wheeler – Community School District 22-New York City (New York City)
- Outstanding team of the year: Jon Curtis and Amy Wolske – Greenfield Elementary (Baldwin, Wisconsin)
- Manager of the Year: Kacey Chong – Southern Highlands Preparatory School (Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Specialist/Nurse of the Year: Melissa Smith – Texas Region 16 (Amarillo, Texas)
- Young Heart Leadership Award: Riley Jimenez – Tuloso Midway Intermediate School (Corpus Christi, Texas)
The Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are science-based and designed to improve physical and emotional well-being, support academic success, and help students feel confident in their ability to make a difference. Reaching more than 10 million students in approximately 20,000 U.S. schools each year, participants and their families learn how to eat smart, manage stress, avoid tobacco and vaping, recognize warning signs of heart attack and stroke, and more. Students are also introduced to hands-only CPR, a life-saving skill that school-aged children can learn and, by age 12, use effectively if they experience sudden cardiac arrest.
Learn more about the Kids Heart Challenge and the American Heart Challenge and how to get involved at heart.org/jointhechallenge.
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