American Heart Association Honors Students and Educators for Combatting Rising Childhood Obesity

The American Heart Association honored nine students, schools, and educators from across the United States during a virtual awards ceremony on November 20, recognizing their significant contributions to combating rising childhood obesity rates through the organization's school-based health programs. The awards come 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.

The annual ceremony recognized outstanding participants in the Association's nationwide in-school programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, which reach more than 10 million students in approximately 20,000 U.S. schools each year. These programs are grounded in science and designed to improve physical and emotional well-being, support academic success, and help students feel confident in their ability to make a difference in their 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 and senior vice president of women's health at Northwell Health. "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 Parkview Baptist in Louisiana, Natalie Wheeler from Community School District 22 in New York City, Jon Curtis and Amy Wolske from Greenfield Elementary in Wisconsin, Kacey Chong from Southern Highlands Preparatory School in Nevada, Melissa Smith from Texas Region 16, and Riley Jimenez from Tuloso Midway Intermediate School in Texas.

Participants in the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs learn essential health skills including how to eat smart, manage stress, avoid tobacco and vaping, recognize warning signs of heart attack and stroke, and perform Hands-Only CPR. The programs are particularly significant because research shows that by age 12, children can effectively use CPR if they witness a sudden cardiac arrest, potentially saving lives in emergency situations.

The recognition of these educators and students highlights the importance of school-based interventions in addressing the childhood obesity epidemic. With childhood obesity rates continuing to climb, these programs represent a critical frontline defense in teaching healthy habits early and creating environments that support physical and emotional well-being. The awards ceremony serves to spotlight successful approaches that can be replicated in schools nationwide to combat this growing public health concern.

More information about the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs is available at heart.org/jointhechallenge.