2015 Public Health Perspective Essay Contest

The 13th annual Teen Public Health Perspective has been sponsored by the Wayne County Board of Health in partnership with the Wayne County Health Department and the Wayne Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.

The 2015 annual essay contest has expanded from the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention focus to capture the Teen Public Health Perspective. The students wrote essays on public health topics that reflected an issue in our county and provided possible solutions to resolve it. Students wrote on various topics like Environmental Health, Abstinence, Cancer, Mental Illness, Suicide, Teen Pregnancy, Sleep Deprivation, Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Healthy Eating, Eating Disorder, Chronic Diseases.

This year (including the extended deadline) 40 essay were submitted for the Teen Public Health Perspective Essay Contest.

Sponsorship from the Board of Health contributed to the First place winner receiving a $1,000 scholarship and a $75 gift card, Second place winner receiving a $500 scholarship and $50 gift card. Third place winner receiving a $300 scholarship and $50 gift card.

Pictured above (from left) are Ms. Lauren Edwards, 1st place for her essay on suicide; Ms. Amelia Marriner, 2nd place for her essay on domestic violence; and Mr. Matthew Teachey, 3rd place for his essay on healthy eating.

Essay Judges: From left is: Pam Anderson: WCPS School Nurse Supervisor, Kendall Freeman: Children’s Home Society- Wise Guys Health Educator , Jamal Bailey: Prevention & Treatment Center Behavior Specialist, Ta-Kisha Darden: WCHD Adolescent Health Educator & Teen Essay Contest Chairperson, L. J. Stanley: Community and Schools Board Member, Sharon Thompson: Autism Society Member Co- Chair, Linda Holden-Cox: Wayne Uplift Resource Association, Inc. Executive Director (Not pictured are: Summer Young: 4-H Youth Leader, Brenda Bass: Environmental Health Specialist, Steve Anderson: Cherry Hospital Nurse, Celita Graham: Minority Health & Disparities, Jackie Leverette: Department of Social Services, Tamara Baltazar: Wayne County Public Library, LaTerrie Ward: Community Affairs.

The Wayne County Board of Health with the winners at the awards presentation ceremony.

The Essay Judges with the winners at the award presentation ceremony.