The American Heart Association (AHA) has honored nine students, educators, and schools from across the United States for their work in promoting healthier classrooms and helping reduce childhood obesity. The recognition came during a virtual awards ceremony held on Nov. 20.
Childhood obesity continues to rise across the country. Today, one in five American children and teenagers is obese. That rate has increased by 35% since 2000, and severe obesity among young people has nearly doubled. The AHA organized this ceremony to highlight people who are taking action in their communities to address these growing health risks.
The annual event celebrates outstanding contributors to the AHA’s national school programs: Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™. Volunteers, teachers, and students from across the nation attended the ceremony, which recognized top performers for their dedication to improving children’s health.
“These alarming trends can be reversed if we work together,” 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 in New York City. “These students and educators are doing more than raising important funds. They are inspiring healthier habits and supporting long-term change in their communities.”
All nine honorees took part in one of the AHA’s school programs during the 2024–25 academic year and were nominated by AHA staff.
2025 Award Recipients
Superintendent of the Year: Dr. Nicole Wesley – Redondo Beach Unified School District (California)
Outstanding American Heart Challenge Volunteer of the Year: Rob Dorsett – Perryville High School (Maryland)
Heart-Healthy School Award: Zachary Barrows – Summerlake Elementary (Florida)
Outstanding Kids Heart Challenge Volunteer of the Year: Marline Price – Parkview Baptist (Louisiana)
Open-Door Award: Natalie Wheeler – Community School District 22 (New York City)
Outstanding Team of the Year: Jon Curtis and Amy Wolske – Greenfield Elementary (Wisconsin)
Principal of the Year: Kacey Chong – Southern Highlands Preparatory School (Nevada)
Specialist/Nurse of the Year: Melissa Smith – Texas Region 16 (Texas)
Young Heart Leadership Award: Riley Jimenez – Tuloso Midway Intermediate School (Texas)
The Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs aim to improve both physical and emotional well-being. They also support academic success by giving students the tools to make healthy choices. Each year, these programs reach more than 10 million students in roughly 20,000 schools nationwide.
Participants learn about good nutrition, stress management, avoiding tobacco and vaping, and recognizing the signs of heart attack and stroke. Students are also introduced to Hands-Only CPR, a skill most children can learn and perform effectively by age 12.
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