Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) is a United States

scholarship A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need. Scholarsh ...

program in the area of

public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...

. It is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by the

College Board The College Board is an American nonprofit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an association of colleges, it runs a ...

Goals

The program's goal is to inspire students to do

epidemiology Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidenc ...

research, and to inspire students to explore the broad field of public health. Such research can involve many different topics, including disease, social networking, methods of health education, sports injuries, obesity, stress, and sleeping patterns.

Awards

The program offers up to 120 scholarships each year, for a total award amount of $456,000. All students entering submit their paper to the program no later than the beginning of February. Of all submissions: * 60 ''Semifinalists'' are chosen and given a $1000 scholarship. * 60 ''Finalists'', 10 from each region of the country, are chosen to compete at a higher level. They receive an expense paid trip to the entire national competition in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

In Washington

At the regional finals level, the 60 finalists are also judged by a presentation to a group of judges, as well as a question and answer session. Of all the regional finalists, * 48 (8 of each region) receive a $2000 scholarship. * 12 (2 of each region) are selected at ''National Finalists'' The National Finalists then present again to a national panel in the same format as before. Awards for the national finalists are as follows. * 6 awards of $15,000. * 2 awards of $20,000. * 2 awards of $35,000. * 2 awards of $50,000.

First place winners

Most recent (2010–2011)

*Michelle Lee of North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford, PA for "''Routine Outpatient Testing of Skin Infections for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in High School Athletes''" *Rebecca Leong of Columbia River High School in Vancouver, WA for "''The Effect of Footwear Habits of Long-Distance Runners on Running-Related Injury: A Prospective Cohort''"

2009–2010

*Shoshanna Goldin of Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, PA for "''Energy Epidemic: Teen Perceptions and Consumption of Energy Drinks''" *Gazelle Zerafati of The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, PA for "''Epidemiology of Migraine in Teenage Girls, A Student Population Based Study''"

2008–2009

*Alexander Chernyakhovsky of William Mason High School in Mason, OH for "''Global Epidemiological Analysis of Avian Influenza Viruses in Humans''" *Amrita Sehgal of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, CA for "''Can We Start the War on Osteoporosis Early? Are Teenagers Taking Enough Calcium?''"

2007–2008

*Katie Everett of Huron High School in Ann Arbor, MI for "''A Sexual-Network-Based Model Evaluating the Impact of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination on Infection Prevalence in an Adolescent Population''" *Jessica Palmer of

Ossining High School Ossining High School (OHS) is a comprehensive public high school located in Ossining, New York, United States, along the Hudson River in northern Westchester County, New York. Serving grades 9 through 12, it is the sole high school within the ...

in Ossining, NY for "''Examining Repetitive Behaviors in Parents and Siblings of Individuals with Autism''"

2006–2007

*Megan Blewett of Madison High School in Madison, NJ for "''A Space/Time Epidemiological Comparison of Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Sclerosis''" *William Slack of Decatur High School in Decatur, GA for "''Teen Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use: A social network examination''"

2005–2006

*Natalia Nazarewicz of Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, TN for "''Deliberate Self-Harm Among Adolescents: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Treatment Options''" *Aman Prasad of Century High School in Pocatello, ID for ''"Physical Activity and Mood in Adolescents''"

2004–2005

*Jessica Cohen of Roslyn High School in Roslyn Heights, NY for "''The Impact of Condom Education on High School Students''" *Andreea Seicean of Bay High School in Bay Village, OH for "''A Significant Association Between Short Sleeping Hours and Teens Overweight/Obesity: Results from Bay High School''"

2003–2004

*Benjamin Eidelson of

Akiba Hebrew Academy Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy is a coeducational college-preparatory and religiously pluralistic Jewish day school for grades 6 through 12, located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Founded in Center City, Philadelphia in 1946 as Akiba Hebrew Aca ...

in Merion Station, PA for "''VIR-POX: An Epidemiologic Study of Smallpox Preparedness and Response Policy''" *Robert Levine of Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL for "''Artificial Tanning by Suburban Teenagers: A Survey on the Prevalence of and Motivations for Indoor Tanning in the Midwest''"

Sponsoring organizations

The College Board

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Public health in the United States