The American Heart Association has honored nine students, schools, and educators from across the United States for their outstanding contributions to fighting childhood obesity and promoting heart health in educational settings. This recognition comes at a critical time when one in every five American children and teens is obese, representing a 35% increase since 2000, with severe childhood obesity rates nearly doubling during that period according to CDC data available at https://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7341a5.
The virtual awards ceremony held on November 20 recognized exceptional participants in the Association's nationwide school programs, Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge. These programs reach more than 10 million students in approximately 20,000 U.S. schools annually, providing critical health education and physical activity opportunities during a period of concerning health trends among American youth.
"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 from 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 from Summerlake Elementary in Florida receiving the Heart-Healthy School Award. Other recipients included Marline Price from Louisiana as Outstanding Kids Heart Challenge Volunteer of the Year, Natalie Wheeler from New York City receiving the Open-Door Award, and the team of Jon Curtis and Amy Wolske from Wisconsin as Outstanding Team of the Year.
The awards also recognized Kacey Chong from Nevada as Principal of the Year, Melissa Smith from Texas as Specialist/Nurse of the Year, and Riley Jimenez from Texas as Young Heart Leadership Award recipient. All award recipients participated in either Kids Heart Challenge or American Heart Challenge during the 2024-25 school year and were nominated by Association staff for their exceptional contributions.
These school-based programs are grounded in scientific principles and designed to improve both physical and emotional well-being while supporting academic success. Participants and their families learn essential health skills including proper nutrition, stress management, tobacco and vaping avoidance, and recognizing warning signs of heart attacks and strokes. A particularly critical component involves teaching Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill that school-aged children can learn and effectively use by age 12 if they witness a sudden cardiac arrest.
The recognition of these educational leaders and students highlights the importance of community-based approaches to addressing childhood health crises. With childhood obesity rates continuing to climb, these programs represent practical, scalable solutions that can be implemented in schools nationwide. The work being honored demonstrates how local initiatives can create meaningful impact against national health challenges, potentially reversing troubling trends in youth health outcomes.
More information about the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs is available at https://heart.org/jointhechallenge, providing resources for schools and communities interested in implementing similar health initiatives. These evidence-based programs represent a crucial frontline defense against the growing childhood obesity epidemic while equipping young people with knowledge and skills that can save lives and promote lifelong health.
