Apr 26
HPAC Youth Work Together to Advance Community Health
On a sun-splashed Saturday in April, more than 600 people lined up to enjoy the beautiful spring weather by participating in 5K and Rainbow Color Fun Run in Creston, Ohio as part of the Norwayne High School HPAC group’s launch party to unveil the County Line Trail App. The day of festivities, which also included a fair, guided tours of the historical County Line Trail, free yoga classes, and even a surprise flash mob, was the culmination of two years of dedication and hard work from the HPAC group, which was determined to help fight obesity and inactivity in their community.
The Norwayne HPAC group was just one of more than 300 success stories shared at the Fourth Annual HPAC Scholars Day on April 24 at Northeast Ohio Medical University. More than 1,200 guests attended the event to learn about how the HPAC groups have made a positive impact on the health of their communities. The 800 HPAC students in attendance represented 27 counties throughout Ohio as they came together to celebrate their many inspiring accomplishments.
The excitement of the students was apparent to anyone who stepped into the NEW Center throughout the day. Students huddled together to let out group cheers and prepare for their presentations, eager to demonstrate how they engaged their communities throughout the school year.
Co-founders of the HPAC program, Erik Porfeli, Ph.D., associate dean for community engagement and admissions, and Gina Weisblat, Ph.D., assistant professor of family and community medicine, really enjoy seeing the students excel. “The students bring so much energy and passion to their projects and today is their day to shine. With the support of the community, the students have the capacity to imagine and enact far-reaching community health initiatives, and that has been demonstrated today by hundreds of students,” said Dr. Porfeli.
While all of the HPAC groups made major strides to identify and address a major health concern in their community, the presentations were judged with honors bestowed for the top-scoring projects. Those receiving honors at the 2016 HPAC Scholars Day include:
Outstanding Poster Presentations
HPAC Site – Project Title
Crestwood High School – What Would You Do?
Crestwood High School – CPR & Health Safety
Bio-Med Science Academy – Dynamic Darlings
Norwayne High School – Fun & Fitness on County Line Trail
Crestwood High School – Aquaponics Greenhouse
James A. Garfield – Mess Stress
Outstanding Oral Presentations
HPAC Site – Project Title
Twinsburg High School – Lupus-An Unknown Mystery
Monroe Central High School – Body & Soul: A Balanced Role
Congratulations to all of the HPAC award recipients, as well as all of those who participated in the program throughout the academic year to make a difference in their community!
To learn more about how to get involved and support HPAC, visit hpac.us.
