DALLAS, September 18, 2025 — Cardiovascular disease remains a pervasive health challenge in the United States, with alarming trends emerging early in life. Recent scientific evidence highlights that many American adolescents have developed significant cardiovascular risk factors by the age of 18, including obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes. This early onset of health risks signals a critical need for innovative interventions targeting youth before these conditions manifest into severe, lifelong afflictions. Against this backdrop, the American Heart Association (AHA) is strategically investing in empowering young leaders with both the knowledge and resources necessary to combat cardiovascular disease at the community level, spearheading an initiative called the American Heart Challenge™.
The American Heart Challenge is a transformative program that activates high school students nationwide, encouraging them to model and promote heart-healthy behaviors among their peers and communities. Through its annual scholarship awards, the AHA recognizes and supports outstanding student leaders who exhibit exceptional dedication to health advocacy and community engagement. Each year, five high school students receive $1,000 scholarships, enabling them to further their education and amplify their impact on public health. These scholarships reflect the AHA’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of medical innovators, health educators, and community advocates in cardiovascular medicine and wellness promotion.
These young leaders come from diverse backgrounds yet share a unified goal of confronting cardiovascular disease through both personal commitment and communal outreach. For instance, Addison Gralund, a senior at Central City High School in Iowa, exemplifies resilience as a congenital heart defect survivor who has transformed her personal health experiences into dedicated volunteerism with the AHA. Addison’s ambition to become a cardiologist is fueled by firsthand insights into the complexities of congenital heart conditions, positioning her to contribute to advancing treatment modalities and patient care in her future medical career.
Similarly, Ashley LoMonaco from Wayne, New Jersey, is motivated by a family health legacy, with her advocacy rooted in the lived experience of her grandfather’s battle with heart disease. As she prepares to enroll at Dartmouth College, Ashley aims to broaden heart health awareness within academic and community settings, leveraging scholarship support to intensify outreach efforts that emphasize preventive behaviors, early screenings, and lifestyle modification strategies. This multi-dimensional approach is essential, given that behavioral interventions remain the cornerstone for attenuating modifiable cardiovascular risks.
Athleticism and leadership converge in Jack Waranavage of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, who uses his platform as a high school athlete to champion heart-healthy living. Jack’s journey underscores the interplay between physical activity and cardiovascular wellness, illustrating how sport-based community engagement can be a powerful conduit for disseminating public health messages. His forthcoming collegiate and athletic pursuits at Muhlenberg College are expected to sustain his influence as a role model for heart-conscious living, particularly among youth populations vulnerable to sedentary lifestyles.
In Alabama, Jameson Calvery’s story sheds light on the complex interaction between infectious disease and cardiovascular health. Experiencing heart complications following a COVID-19 infection, Jameson developed a heightened interest in the interdisciplinary fields of physical and mental health, recognizing the intricate biopsychosocial components influencing cardiovascular outcomes. His plans to study biomedical engineering at Florida State University promise to bridge engineering principles with clinical needs, potentially contributing to innovative solutions such as advanced cardiac devices or diagnostics that enhance patient care efficacy.
From Texas, Zoey Bloomquist demonstrates the ongoing challenges and advocacy potential for individuals living with congenital heart defects. An active supporter of the AHA, Zoey utilizes her scholarship funds to equip herself with academic tools at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, reinforcing the vital connection between technological empowerment and academic success. Her experience highlights the importance of equitable access to resources in promoting health engagement and career development for young adults with chronic health conditions.
The American Heart Challenge operates beyond scholarship awards by embedding service-learning frameworks that ignite active participation among middle and high school students. Through curriculum integration, peer-led health promotion campaigns, and fundraising endeavors for cardiovascular research, participants gain experiential understanding of the biological, behavioral, and social determinants impacting heart health. Emphasizing not only coronary artery disease but also stroke prevention efforts, this initiative cultivates a holistic perspective in young advocates who could become future clinicians, researchers, and policy shapers.
Scientific research underlines the urgency of early intervention, given that adolescent risk factors strongly predict adult cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The AHA’s approach aligns with emerging evidence supporting school-based health programs as effective platforms to influence normative behaviors and create supportive environments conducive to lifestyle change. By fostering student leadership, the program enhances self-efficacy and community cohesion, factors identified as critical for sustainable health improvements.
Moreover, the program’s emphasis on mental health recognizes the interconnectedness of psychological well-being and cardiovascular outcomes. Stress, anxiety, and depression have demonstrable effects on autonomic regulation, inflammation, and behavioral compliance with health recommendations. Integrating mental health advocacy advances a more nuanced understanding of disease prevention, ensuring that young leaders address the multifactorial nature of cardiovascular risk.
At a population level, the American Heart Challenge exemplifies a scalable model that leverages educational institutions as hubs for public health innovation. The synergy between biomedical insights, community engagement, and policy advocacy embedded in the program fosters a comprehensive strategy for heart disease prevention. As the program grows, there is significant potential for longitudinal data collection and outcome evaluation that can inform best practices in youth-centered cardiovascular health interventions.
To expand the reach of this impactful initiative, the American Heart Association invites schools nationwide to participate and integrate the American Heart Challenge into their curricula and extracurricular activities. By mobilizing students at the grassroots level, the AHA strategically addresses health inequities and builds a robust pipeline of informed, motivated leaders poised to shift the paradigm of cardiovascular health in America.
For more information or to bring the American Heart Challenge to your school, visit www.heart.org/getstarted.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a leading force dedicated to creating longer, healthier lives through groundbreaking research, education, and advocacy. With over a century of commitment and more than 35 million volunteers worldwide, the AHA functions at the nexus of scientific innovation and community empowerment to combat cardiovascular disease and stroke. Their comprehensive programs advance health equity by providing evidence-based resources and driving systemic change across care delivery, policy development, and public awareness.
Media Contact:
Afton Fairchild
Email: afton.fairchild@heart.org
Phone: 214-706-1173
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
Websites: www.heart.org, www.stroke.org
Subject of Research: Adolescent cardiovascular risk factors, youth leadership in cardiovascular health promotion, congenital heart defects, COVID-19 impact on cardiovascular health, biomedical engineering in cardiac care.
Article Title: Empowering Youth Leaders to Combat Early-Onset Cardiovascular Risks: The American Heart Challenge Initiative
News Publication Date: September 18, 2025
Web References:
- https://www.heart.org/getstarted
- https://newsroom.heart.org/news/scholarships-awarded-to-5-high-school-students-leading-efforts-for-healthier-communities
- http://www.heart.org/en
- http://www.stroke.org/
References:
Scott, Jewel, et al. “Cardiovascular Health in the Transition From Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.” Journal of the American Heart Association, vol. 14, no. 9, 2025, e039239.
Keywords: cardiovascular disease prevention, adolescent health, congenital heart defects, biomedical engineering, heart health advocacy, youth leadership, American Heart Association, health scholarships, COVID-19 cardiac complications, community health education
