American Heart Association Awards Scholarships to Student Leaders Promoting Heart Health

The American Heart Association has awarded $1,000 scholarships to five high school students nationwide who are leading efforts to promote heart health and healthier lifestyles among their peers. This initiative is part of the Association's school-based program, the American Heart Challenge™, which aims to engage students in activities that raise awareness and funds for cardiovascular health, CPR education, and scientific research.

According to an American Heart Association scientific statement, many young Americans develop cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or Type 2 diabetes by age 18. The scholarship program invests in student leaders who are working to reverse this trend by modeling healthy choices and inspiring their communities. Lee A. Shapiro, J.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association, stated, "These outstanding student leaders model healthy choices and inspire their peers to do the same. They aren’t just the future of health; they’re helping shape it today."

The 2024-25 scholarship recipients include Addison Gralund from Central City High School in Iowa, a congenital heart defect survivor who plans to become a cardiologist; Ashley LoMonaco from DePaul Catholic High School in New Jersey, an advocate inspired by her grandfather with heart disease, who will attend Dartmouth College; Jack Waranavage from Crest High School in Pennsylvania, an athlete promoting heart-healthy lifestyles, who will study at Muhlenberg College; Jameson Calvery from Saint Michael Catholic High School in Alabama, who developed a passion for health after COVID-19-related heart issues and will major in biomedical engineering at Florida State University; and Zoey Bloomquist from Veterans Memorial High School in Texas, another congenital heart defect survivor who will use the funds for tuition at Texas A&M University - Kingsville.

This scholarship program underscores the importance of early intervention in cardiovascular health, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving public health outcomes. By supporting young leaders, the American Heart Association fosters a culture of wellness that could lead to broader societal benefits, including increased awareness and prevention of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Challenge engages students in service-learning, further amplifying its impact. For more information on the program, visit https://www.heart.org/getstarted.