Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 21, 2025
Heart Association Honors Students, Schools Fighting Childhood Obesity Crisis
TLDR
- The American Heart Association's awards program provides recognition opportunities for schools and educators to gain competitive advantages in community health leadership and funding.
- The American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs use science-based approaches to teach nutrition, stress management, and CPR skills to students.
- These award-winning programs create healthier communities by teaching children lifelong wellness habits and empowering them to make positive health changes for everyone.
- Children as young as 12 can effectively perform Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill taught through these innovative school health challenges.
Impact - Why it Matters
This recognition matters because childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions with severe long-term health consequences, including increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and reduced life expectancy. The programs being honored address this crisis at its roots by empowering children with practical health knowledge and skills they can carry throughout their lives. With obesity rates climbing 35% since 2000, these school-based initiatives represent a critical frontline defense against a public health emergency that affects millions of families and strains healthcare systems. The emphasis on teaching Hands-Only CPR to children as young as 12 means communities gain more potential lifesavers during cardiac emergencies, while the comprehensive health education helps establish healthy habits early when they're most likely to become lifelong practices.
Summary
In response to alarming childhood obesity statistics showing one in five American children and teens are now obese—a 35% increase since 2000 with severe childhood obesity rates nearly doubling—the American Heart Association has taken decisive action by honoring nine outstanding students, schools, and educators during a virtual awards ceremony on November 20. The ceremony recognized exceptional participants in the Association's nationwide in-school programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, which reach more than 10 million students across approximately 20,000 U.S. schools annually. These programs are grounded in science and designed to improve physical and emotional well-being while supporting academic success and empowering students to make meaningful health differences in their communities.
The 2025 honorees included Dr. Nicole Wesley of Redondo Beach Unified School District as Superintendent of the Year, Rob Dorsett from Perryville High School as Outstanding American Heart Challenge Volunteer of the Year, and Zachary Barrows of Summerlake Elementary receiving the Heart-Healthy School Award. Additional recipients spanned the country from New York to Nevada, including Marline Price as Outstanding Kids Heart Challenge Volunteer of the Year, Natalie Wheeler earning the Open-Door Award, and the team of Jon Curtis and Amy Wolske recognized as Outstanding Team of the Year. The awards celebrated those making tangible impacts through programs that teach critical health skills including Hands-Only CPR, which school-aged children can effectively use by age 12 to respond to sudden cardiac arrest emergencies.
According to Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, these honorees represent frontline efforts to combat rising childhood obesity trends by inspiring healthier habits and creating lasting community change. The programs extend beyond fundraising to provide comprehensive health education covering nutrition, stress management, tobacco and vaping avoidance, and recognizing heart attack and stroke warning signs. Families can learn more about getting involved through the official website at heart.org/jointhechallenge, where they can access resources from this leading health organization that has been driving health breakthroughs for over a century with support from 35 million volunteers worldwide.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Heart Association Honors Students, Schools Fighting Childhood Obesity Crisis
