News
 Patrick Henry High School Student is Among Problem-solving Elite at YES Competition
Earns National Recognition, $20,000 Scholarship
April 16, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sarah Silverstein from Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, Calif. was awarded a $20,000 college scholarship today in the Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition, one of the nation’s most prestigious and influential high school science competitions.

Sarah was among 60 high school students selected out of more than 700 entrants nationwide to compete in the finals held in the nation’s capital. The YES Competition, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and administered by the College Board, is designed to spur students’ interest in the field of public health, specifically epidemiology. Epidemiology explores patterns of disease, illness and injury within populations, with the goal of developing methods for prevention, control and treatment to improve health.

YES competitors each developed a research project in which they identified a health problem, gathered data about that problem, and addressed the problem based on the data they gathered. Sarah’s project was entitled “A Longitudinal Study of Stress in First Year Dental Students.”

An aspiring orthodontist, Sarah found extremely high levels of stress in first-year dental students, based on a study of nearly 300 first-year students at four dental schools. “Knowledge of how stress affects performance and health and how it changes over time can be used by schools to counsel first year students and to stimulate the implementation of stress reduction programs,” Sarah said.

The winners in the national competition were chosen by a panel of judges that included some of the nation’s top epidemiologists, as well as high school teachers and curriculum developers. The competitors gave oral presentations about their projects and fielded questions from the judges.

Megan Blewett from Madison High School in Madison, N.J., and William Slack from Decatur High School in Decatur, Ga., were each awarded a $50,000 college scholarship for taking top honors.

“The YES Competition encourages students to use the same skills employed by epidemiologists to tackle important health challenges,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “The impressive young men and women in this competition displayed immense talent and initiative in their projects. We hope these young leaders will pursue careers in public health, helping people lead healthier lives and making a world of difference.”

While the highly competitive scholarship contest focuses on epidemiology, application of the research skills used in the YES Competition extends far beyond that field.

“Epidemiologists use the most advanced research methods available to help solve today’s major public health problems,” said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board. “Problem-solving and critical thinking skills will serve these students well not only in the pursuit of any college degree, but throughout their lives.”

For more information, to interview winner or to speak with a YES spokesperson, please contact Brian Wesolowski at 202-457-8100 or brian@lipmanhearne.com. For more information about the YES Competition, visit www.collegeboard.com/yes.