PWSH Junior Visakha Suresh
Earns National Scholarship

June 5, 2009

Project on the Effect of Socioeconomic Determinants on Nutritional Behavior and Physical Activity Patterns Claims National Finalist Honor in YES Competition

Visakha Suresh, 15, a junior at Plano West Senior High School, was recently awarded a $15,000 college scholarship in the Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by the College Board.

Miss Suresh was among 60 high school students selected out of more than 560 entrants nationwide to present their projects to a top panel of epidemiologists in Washington, D.C., and one of 12 National Finalists selected at the competition, in which nearly $500,000 in scholarships were awarded. 

 “The YES Competition is one of the nation’s most prestigious science competitions for high school students,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Visakha’s impressive work demonstrates that a new generation of epidemiologists is emerging, which holds great promise for improving the health of our nation.”

The YES Competition 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.

Students develop a research question and hypothesis about a health issue that concerns a group or groups of people, and then conduct research to analyze the subject and suggest potential ways to improve the problem based on their analysis.

“The Effect of Socioeconomic Determinants on Nutritional Behavior and Physical Activity Patterns”

Miss Suresh's study, “The Effect of Socioeconomic Determinants on Nutritional Behavior and Physical Activity Patterns,” showed that where you live can affect your heath. Visakha contrasted a low-income and an affluent neighborhood near Plano and found that the wealthier neighborhood had three times more places to get healthy foods than in the poorer neighborhood.

In addition, she found that the same grocery chains had healthier food options on their shelves in the wealthier neighborhood. She also found that there were three times more areas for physical activity in the wealthier neighborhood.

Also, when she observed people in both neighborhoods participating in physical activities, she found that moderate to vigorous exercise was significantly more common in the wealthier neighborhood. Her findings confirm other studies showing that the availability of healthy food and opportunities for physical activity are associated with neighborhood economic status.

“The YES Competition is designed to encourage students to explore careers in public health and epidemiology, but we know it does much more than that,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton. “Visakha addressed a national health issue and we congratulate her on a successful project. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of her hard work in the future.” 

For more information about the YES Competition, visit www.collegeboard.com/YES.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the quality of the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful, and timely change. For more than 35 years, the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

The College Board
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,600 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT® and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.com.

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