Title: Young Epidemiology Scholars Competition: Student Winners
Author:
Section/SPIG: Epidemiology
Issue Date:
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| YES Scholars and Robin Taylor Wilson |
The future health of the American population depends in large part upon the knowledge and ability of our upcoming health leaders, practitioners and researchers. The Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition presents students with an introduction to a broad array of learning opportunities, enables them to participate in enriching classroom experiences, affords the opportunity to develop relationships that foster intellectual and personal growth, and exposes them to knowledge surrounding public health and responsibility.
Supported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the College Board, YES features a student scholarship competition for promising juniors and seniors who aspire to make a difference. This competition, with up to $500,000 available, is one of the most generous scholarship awards in the nation. Students will learn fundamental skills from this enriching experience. They will learn how to frame the right questions, collect data and analyze findings--valuable information in any discipline or career they might choose! The regional finalists receive an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital to present their findings.
While the YES Competition presents students with an introduction to a broad array of learning opportunities, enables them to participate in enriching classroom experiences, affords the opportunity to develop relationships that foster intellectual and personal growth, and exposes them to knowledge surrounding public health and responsibility, the program has developed over 20 teaching units that bring a new level of significance to the classroom, using epidemiology as a window into the larger world. Developed and classroom-tested by high school teachers and epidemiologists, the interdisciplinary modules for use by high school teachers are available free to download from <http://www.collegeboard.com/yes>. As one of our pilot teachers remarked, "This module forces students to think outside the box using their routinely reinforced basics of the scientific method. Not only were they able to interpret data, but it had relevance to their lives."
The students who won the first-ever Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition for students proved that health problems are a significant concern to high school students across the nation. Winning project topics ranged from the development of a computerized model to evaluate the effects of smallpox vaccinations to uncovering the reasons behind the prevalence of indoor tanning among suburban teenagers.
"I decided to study smallpox, a potentially devastating terrorist weapon in the context of a dynamic and complex social world." Benjamin Eidelson, Akiba Hebrew Academy Merion, Station, PA, $50,000 scholarship winner.
In his first-place YES project, Benjamin developed a mathematical model to evaluate the effects of different smallpox vaccination strategies based on data from previous outbreaks of smallpox. He found that mass vaccination before an outbreak typically resulted in significantly fewer infections than vaccinations after the outbreak, but that the two strategies were equal in their ability to eliminate the virus from the population within five months. A National Merit Scholar, Benjamin was a member of the Akiba Hebrew Academy debate team and a volunteer tutor for children at St. Barnabas Homeless Shelter. His long-term interest in computer science led to his involvement with a University of Pennsylvania research group using computer models to study social science and geopolitical issues. He also did research at MCP-Hahnemann University on the development of computer games for use in surgical education curricula. He will pursue undergraduate study in political science and philosophy at Yale University.
"Seeing the hallways filled with students, many of whom are friends, who looked remarkably tan in the middle of winter made me think … I want to tell students that they can't forget the long-term ramifications of their actions for something as superficial as a good-looking tan." Robert Levine, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL, $50,000 scholarship winner.
Concern for the health of his friends and classmates motivated this avid student athlete and outdoorsman in the design of his YES project. A National Honor Society student, Robert complements his studies with active participation in organizations such as the Interact Club, Future Problem Solvers and his synagogue youth group. His passion for outdoor activities is evident in hobbies that include soccer, rock climbing, road cycling, running and varsity athletic competition on the track and field team. An environmental activist in his school, Robert is president of the Students Against Violations of the Environment (SAVE). In his YES project, he surveyed a large Midwestern high school, known for its academic excellence, to quantify indoor tanning behaviors and sunscreen use. Reasons for tanning as well as other influences were examined. This is important in light of the increasing popularity of tanning salons and the known association between exposure to ultraviolet radiation and the increased risk of skin cancer. Planning to major in biology or environmental studies, Robert will attend Middlebury College.
"The ultimate opportunity that exists to improve the quality of life for individuals alive today, as well as prevention of the spread of infections in the future, is inspiring." Bevin Cohen, Oceanside High School, Oceanside, NY, $20,000 scholarship winner.
Inspired by the opportunity to improve the quality of life and to prevent the future spread of infection, Bevin developed her project to build upon previous research by her mentor. She conducted a study that compared hand hygiene practices in two neonatal intensive care units and suggested ways to decrease exposure to infection among infants in those units. Bevin's experience in science competitions includes participation in the Long Island Science Congress, INTEL Science Talent Search, Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium and the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. She writes for her school newspaper and is active in a variety of organizations including 4H, Model United Nations and Habitat for Humanity. She enjoys cooking, organizing dinner parties, fine arts and crafting. A vocalist as well as an instrumental musician, Bevin plays guitar and piano. She plans to continue her studies at the University of Vermont.
"I wondered how a disease would actually spread in a confined space like a cruise ship, and began to theorize with my mentor about how the disease would be passed in waves to the rest of the people on the ship. This discussion led me to questions pertaining to the spread of disease in other closed-system populations and the processes of epidemiology." Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Brewster High School, Brewster, NY, $20,000 scholarship winner.
Anna enjoys the challenge of developing viable solutions using the research process of hypothesis testing and data collection. She developed a computer simulation to model the spread of infectious disease and showed that the rate at which an epidemic will spread and "burn out" increases as the greater number of social connections that exist in a community increase. Encouraged by a teacher to enter the YES competition, Anna is no stranger to research competitions. She reached the regional finals in the 2003 Siemens Westinghouse competition, was a semifinalist in the 2004 Intel Science Talent Search, was a Finalist in the 2004 Intel ISEF and was named overall winner at the 2004 Science Horizons and Connecticut State Fairs. Her research is currently being used in support of legislation to contain the spread of invasive aquatic species in Maine lakes. A member of the National and Science Honor Societies, Anna is a peer tutor. She is the editor-in-chief of the high school literary magazine and enjoys composing music for the violin. Anna will pursue studies in biomedical engineering and writing at Stanford University.
I think that the field of epidemiology is going to be greatly needed in the future. With the outbreaks of diseases worldwide and the looming threat of bioterrorism, sound public health methods and research will save many lives Yuguan "Bailey" Shen, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL, $15,000 scholarship winner.
Bailey's first attraction to public health occurred at the age of 10 when he became fascinated by the "sleek" U.S. Public Health Service uniform worn by a Centers for Disease Control Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer. In his YES project, he studied the mortality rate during the heat wave of 1995 in Chicago. He demonstrated that there was a decrease in the expected mortality rate in the following year because the most vulnerable people had succumbed to the effects of the heat wave. He described how this phenomenon could help target public health efforts to prevent premature deaths. Bailey has done community service work in the Illinois Department of Public Health lab and was mentored there by Dr. Greg Huhn. At school, Bailey is a member of the IMSA Student Council, Mu Alpha Theta and the Varsity tennis team. His hobbies include mountain biking and composing music for the piano and harmonica. With anticipated high school graduation in 2005, Bailey is interested in university-level study in either law or medicine
Editorial note: The Epidemiology Section supports opportunities for students of all levels to learn epidemiologic methods, research ethics, and to participate in high quality research experiences.