2006-07 Competition
2006-07 National Event Highlights
About the 2006-07 Competition
Fourth Annual YES Competition: Students Compete for Up to $50,000 in College Scholarships
Imagine being awarded a $50,000 college scholarship for something you like to do! Megan Blewett from Madison, New Jersey and William Slack from Decatur, Georgia were awarded just that for their outstanding research. Megan, whose research is titled, "A Space/Time Epidemiological Comparison of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)" is a senior at Madison High School and will attend Harvard University. Will is from Decatur High School. His research focuses on social networking and is titled, "Teen Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use: A Social Network Examination." Will plans to attend Williams College in the fall. Read more about their research.
In all, 60 students presented their epidemiological research to panels of leading epidemiologists, public health officials, and teachers in Washington D.C. on April13-16, 2007, and were awarded scholarships between $2,000 and $50,000. Another 61 students were named Semifinalists and received $1,000 college scholarships. These were the top 121 students, out of 717 who submitted research papers to the YES Competition this year. Projects included a broad range of topics such as: studies on the correlation between obesity and buffets, the relationship between infant allergies and learning disabilities, and the prevalence of human bocavirus in the United States. The judges remarked that, overall, the submissions were some of the best projects they have seen to date.
In all, 60 students presented their epidemiological research to panels of leading epidemiologists, public health officials, and teachers in Washington D.C. on April13-16, 2007, and were awarded scholarships between $2,000 and $50,000. Another 61 students were named Semifinalists and received $1,000 college scholarships. These were the top 121 students, out of 717 who submitted research papers to the YES Competition this year. Projects included a broad range of topics such as: studies on the correlation between obesity and buffets, the relationship between infant allergies and learning disabilities, and the prevalence of human bocavirus in the United States. The judges remarked that, overall, the submissions were some of the best projects they have seen to date.
Keynote speakers included national leaders in public health such as Dr. Howard Frumkin, director of the National Center for Environmental Health Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is an internist, environmental and occupational medicine specialist, and epidemiologist. Fellow speaker Dr. Virginia Ernster, professor emerita of Epidemiology and Biostatics at the University of California, San Francisco's School of Medicine, has worked extensively on women's health issues, including breast cancer research and the effects of smoking on women's health.
Students also had the opportunity to meet and hear from Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu, acting surgeon general of the United States. He noted that "YES" denotes the optimism of this program and that the YES scholars are truly our hope for tomorrow. He said, "Remember that you are all leaders. We must have a vision, and we must be able to speak out in the face of adversity-because speaking out, and then always doing the right thing, is the only way to secure the health, vitality, and prosperity of our nation."
The YES National Event brings the top 60 students together to present their research, engage with professionals in the field, and learn from their peers who have also conducted original research. And what did they have to say about the experience?
"I had an amazing time! It was better than anything I could have imagined. I loved listening to all of the presentations and learning about health problems that affect us. I truly believe some of the students will be friends for life, possibly even future colleagues. My research project and this program have taught me critical thinking skills that will help me throughout my life," explained Stacey Squatrito of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"In the end, science is all about establishing dialogues. The YES Competition allows some of the most motivated students in America to form a community and interact with leading researchers. The greatest dialogues of our time will be about science, especially medicine and health," was the opinion of Megan Blewett from Madison, New Jersey
Next year's YES National Event will be held April 4-7, 2008, in Washington D.C.