2008-09 National Finalists
National Finalists
$15,000 Scholarship
Hannah Bands
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
Baltimore, Maryland
The Effects of Asian American Mothers' Marital Relationship Quality and Depression on Child Social Outcomes
"The YES Competition is a great way for talented students to apply their skills to important, real-life issues, and to improve the world in which they live. The Competition fosters collaboration, which is an increasingly vital skill in science and especially in public health."
Hannah's study focused on factors that could cause social difficulties in young Chinese and Korean immigrant children. She investigated whether two related factors, a mother's rating of the quality of her marriage and her level of depressive symptoms, were associated with the social behaviors of her children. Her findings suggest that community services targeted toward improving healthy adaptation of immigrant families, including marital and depression counseling, could improve social and behavioral outcomes for both parents and children.
Hannah is involved with the Math Club and the Student Government Association at her school and is president of the local chapter of the National Honor Society. Her hobbies include fencing, swimming, and videography. She will attend the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University in order to pursue a career as an environmental engineer.
Sydney Beache
Louisville Collegiate School
Louisville, Kentucky
Finding Connections: Reaching Underserved Women with Mammography
"The YES Competition is not your ordinary science fair. Be prepared to be amazed by the talents of dozens of other high school kids from across the country. You'll be surprised by how much you can learn from your peers in just one weekend."
Inspired by her summer internship at the Norton Cancer Institute in Jefferson County, Kentucky, Sydney decided to research the effectiveness of the Institute's program of delivering breast-cancer screening to medically underserved women in the areas of the county with the highest number of deaths due to breast cancer. She found that the combination of approaches used by the Institute was successful in reaching women who had never before been screened and also in detecting breast cancer early enough for successful treatment.
Sydney volunteers with several youth groups, is an accomplished gymnast, and enjoys playing the guitar and listening to music. She will participate in the Summer Scholars Program at Washington University and will work at the Norton Cancer Institute to continue her YES research. Currently a junior, Sydney plans to pursue a career in medicine with a focus on plastic/reconstructive surgery.
Jason Bishai
Dulaney High School
Timonium, Maryland
Quality or Quantity? The Role of Case-Detection and Access to Care in Controlling Tuberculosis in India
"After working on a tuberculosis project in a microbiology lab, I saw the extreme effect this disease has on humans. A major problem in TB control is distribution, and this led me to my project. I hope my research could aid in creating more effective treatment programs to combat tuberculosis."
Jason's interest in tuberculosis was sparked by seeing first-hand the consequences of TB infection while working in a microbiology lab at Johns Hopkins University. He used his advanced computational programming and mathematical skills to develop a computer simulation of the epidemiology of tuberculosis in India and used the simulation to test the best methods of identifying and rapidly treating TB-infected people to stop the spread of the disease. His findings have important implications for optimal use of the funds available for TB control in India.
Jason is a member of the Key Club, the Model United Nations, and the Boy Scouts of America and enjoys reading and debate. He will attend Stanford University next fall and plans to study biology in order to pursue a career in medical research.
Avtalya Feldman
Kehillah Jewish High School
Palo Alto, California
The Spread Pattern of Influenza B at Home Versus at School in an 8th Grade Cohort
"The most memorable part of YES for me was the opportunity to discuss my study in front of the judging panel. Answering questions and defending my hypothesis in front of incredibly impressive judges was an amazing learning experience. YES is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Nowhere else will high school students have such an opportunity to learn about what it means to be an epidemiologist and create a study while at the same time having fun and making new friends."
Avtalya's project was inspired by an influenza B outbreak at her brother's school during which officials closed the school for five days in an attempt to prevent further transmission. Her study found that while 80 percent of students exposed at the school developed symptoms of influenza B, only 8 percent of household members who were also exposed developed symptoms. This indicates that influenza B spreads much more rapidly at school than at home. Avtalya's research could suggest that being exposed to one person who is sick, even for an extended period of time, may not transmit the disease as effectively as being exposed to a number of people who are sick. Her study recommends a number of guidelines that will give schools the ability to detect spikes in the flu and other illnesses early enough to prevent serious outbreaks.
Avtalya is a member of the Jewish Community Teen Foundation and her hobbies include volunteering, reading, and hiking. This summer she will participate in a mentorship program at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center where she will have the opportunity to shadow doctors as they see patients and perform procedures. Avtalya is currently a junior and has not yet chosen a career path, but she plans to study health sciences in college next year.
Marilyn Piccirillo
Parkway West High School
Ballwin, Missouri
Catheter-Associated Enterococcal Bloodstream Infections: Is Removal of the Catheter Necessary for Successful Management?
"I was introduced to medicine at an early age. My interest lies in the realm of clinical research, health-services research, and public health. Working as a research technician opened my eyes to the importance of epidemiology and biostatistics and the possibility of public health as a career choice."
Marilyn's project investigated the best way to manage bloodstream infections contracted by patients who were in the hospital being treated for other illnesses. She focused on patients infected with enterococcal bacteria, which contribute to approximately 10 percent of all hospital-acquired infections. The rate of enterococcal bloodstream infections associated with central venous catheters is increasing. Marilyn examined hospital data of patients diagnosed with an enterococcal bloodstream infection and compared the outcomes of patients whose central venous catheters were removed to those of patients whose intravenous lines were left in place. Her analysis suggests that removal of the catheter is associated with better results in curing the bloodstream infections and other major medical complications.
Marilyn is involved in the Math Honor Society and National Honor Society; volunteers at a local nursing home; and enjoys playing the piano, ballet, and cooking. She participated in the Greater St. Louis Science Fair and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. This fall, Marilyn will study public health, biochemistry, and international relations at Washington University in St. Louis.
Visakha Suresh
Plano West Senior High School
Plano, Texas
The Effect of Socioeconomic Determinants on Nutritional Behaviors and Physical Activity Patterns
"I strongly believe the key to health promotion is education. The two major contributing factors of obesity (nutrition and physical activity) can be changed through preventive measures. If we research the underlying socioeconomic factors that affect these behaviors, we can design a more effective intervention program that can help a nationwide population."
After volunteering at a local clinic, Visakha wondered if the socioeconomic status of the surrounding neighborhood affected the nutrition and exercise habits of the people living there. She contrasted a low-income and an affluent neighborhood near Plano, Texas. Her study found that the affluent neighborhood had three times more places to get healthy foods than the poorer neighborhood had. She also found that there were three times more areas for physical activity in the affluent neighborhood. 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.
Visakha has competed in several science fairs and is a member of numerous clubs including Mensa and the French Honor Society. She volunteers at Habitat for Humanity and is a Student Voices columnist in the Dallas Morning News. Currently a junior, Visakha intends to double-major in public health and biomedical engineering before continuing to medical school.