Children’s Hospital and American Heart Association honor school contest winners

Winners of the Healthy Kids Contest, sponsored by the American Heart Association and Penn State Health Children's Hospital. From left to right: Molly Emrich, American Heart Association; Eduardo Perez; Charity Cochran; Ali’Ania Braswell; Shay Eisenberger; Mia Toribio-Guzman; Hope Lynn Keller; Airalay Wilson; Nicholas Tome; Dr. Sarah Iriana, Penn State Health; Domenique Sarmento; Teresa DeVono, American Heart Association; Tessa Baldwin; Dr. Thomas Chin, Penn State Health Children's Hospital. Not pictured: Heather Markham and TyJyre Stern.

The American Heart Association and Penn State Health Children’s Hospital honored 12 students from Dauphin, Lancaster and York county schools for their winning essays and artwork that presented their visions of a healthier community and heart heroes. Dr. Thomas Chin, chief of pediatric cardiology at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Sarah Iriana, interim chair of Penn State Health’s Department of Pediatrics, presented the awards at a reception for the students and their families held at the Children’s Hospital on May 16.

Students competing in the art contest were challenged to draw their vision of a heart hero, while students competing in the essay contest were asked to describe what changes they would make in their community to create longer, healthier lives.

Students competing in the art contest were challenged to draw their vision of a heart hero. The winning art was created by:

• 1^st place – Charity Cochran, Middletown Area Middle School
• 2^nd place – Ali’Ania Braswell, STEAM Academy, York
• 3^rd place – Shay Eisenberger, Martic Elementary, Penn Manor School District
• 4^th place – Airalay Wilson, Sylvan Heights Science Charter School, Harrisburg
• Honorable Mention – Eduardo Perez, Phineas Davis K-8 School, York
• Honorable Mention – Hope Lynn Keller, Letort Elementary, Penn Manor School District
• Honorable Mention – Mia Toribio-Guzman, STEAM Academy, York

Students competing in the essay contest were asked to describe what changes they would make in their community to create longer, healthier lives. The winning essays were written by:

• 1^st place – Nicholas Tome, York County School of Technology
• 2^nd place – Domenique Sarmento, Lancaster County Career & Technology Center
• 3^rd place – Tessa Baldwin, Lancaster County Career & Technology Center
• 4^th place – Heather Markham, York County School of Technology
• Honorable Mention – TyJyre Stern, William Penn Senior High School, York

More information about Kids Heart Challenge is available here.

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