AmericanScholarship - Update on Scholarships in America

Deadline for registration and uploading of projects is February 1, 2007, by 5 p.m. ET.
YES National Event, Washington D.C., April 13-16, 2007

The future health of the American population depends in large part upon the knowledge and ability of our upcoming health leaders, practitioners and researchers. The Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition for original student research is designed to inspire talented students to investigate the many behavioral, biological, environmental and social factors that affect health and, based upon this knowledge, to identify ways to improve the health of the public. The YES Competition awards up to 120 college scholarships each year to high school juniors and seniors who conduct outstanding research projects that apply epidemiological methods of analysis to a health-related issue.

Epidemiologists seek answers to why some people get sick and others don’t. In other words, epidemiology is the science of exploring patterns of disease, illness and injury within populations, with the goal of developing methods for prevention, control and treatment to improve health.

The basic skills required by epidemiology- framing the right question, collecting relevant information and analyzing it to answer the question- are skills that will help students succeed in any area of future work. The study and application of epidemiology promotes a way of thinking that can be used effectively in both scientific and nonscientific settings. As a science, epidemiology helps explain the world in which we live and has strong links to personal decisions that each of us makes every day. As a way of thinking, epidemiology can help explain significant historical events and inform current decision-making in a broad variety of sectors. Leaders of communities, states and countries often rely on epidemiological analysis of data when they make critical policy decisions that may affect the well-being of their residents.

Eligibility

The 2006-07 YES Competition for students is open only to juniors and seniors who will graduate from high school no later than September 1, 2008. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents (holding a Green Card) of the United States and enrolled in a high school in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa or the Mariana Islands. Homeschooled students are also eligible. Only one project per student will be accepted. Team projects are not eligible.

If you were previously selected as a YES National Finalist and awarded a YES scholarship of $15,000 or more, you are not eligible to compete a second year. Otherwise, if you meet all other eligibility criteria, you may reapply to the competition by submitting a report consisting of new and original research. You may not submit the same topic as a previous year unless you have significantly advanced your research (e.g., adding substantive new data, analysis or other material).

To enter the competition, you must register online and upload a written report of your research project. Reports sent via email, fax or mail will not be accepted.

Mentors/Advisors

A mentor or advisor is not required for the YES Competition but can be extremely helpful in the development of your project. A mentor/advisor may help you formulate an idea and act as a consultant and offer advice, but the actual work on the project - the study design and analysis of the data - must be carried out independently by the student competitor. You must be able to demonstrate how you have advanced the project independently, and research project reports must clearly describe the extent of any involvement by mentors or advisors.

A mentor or advisor should have a clear understanding of the YES Competition project guidelines. You, the student, are the researcher, and the project must reflect your own concept and content. Your mentor/advisor can help you evaluate your study design before you begin your research and can give you relevant feedback as you progress. They can help you understand the application of epidemiological methods that you employ in your research as well as assist you in thinking through future applications and directions for further research.

Judging & Awards

Each year, up to 120 students will share as much as $456,000 in college scholarships, with the top two national winners each receiving a $50,000 college scholarship. Scholarships can be used for educational expenses at accredited colleges or universities in the United States. The judging and awards process will take place in three rounds, as described below:

Semifinalist Round
YES Competition judges will select up to 120 Semifinalists based on the quality of their written Research Project Reports. Of these 120, up to 60 will receive scholarship awards of $1000, completing their participation in the competition. The other 60 Semifinalists—up to 10 from each of six regions of the country defined by the College Board—will advance to compete at the Regional Finals.

Regional Finalist Round
The students advancing to the Regional Finals will receive an expense-paid trip to the YES National Event in Washington, D.C., April 13-16, 2007, to compete with other students in their region. Regional Finalists will be judged on the basis of their written research reports, as well as an oral presentation and question-and-answer session. Forty-eight of the Regional Finalists will receive scholarship awards of $2,000, completing their participation in the competition. Twelve Regional Finalists—two from each of the six regions—will go on to compete at the National Finals.

National Finalist Round
The 12 students advancing to the National Finals will be judged by a national panel of judges on the basis of their written Research Project Reports, oral presentations and question-and-answer sessions.

YES college scholarship awards to the 12 National Finalists:

• Six will receive scholarship awards of $15,000 each.
• Two will receive scholarship awards of $20,000 each.
• Two will receive scholarship awards of $35,000 each.
• The top two national winners will receive scholarship awards of $50,000 each.

Award Notification

• April 2, 2007: 2006-07 Semifinalists and Regional Finalists announced on the YES website
• April 14, 2007: 12 National Finalists announced at the National Event in Washington D.C.
• April 16, 2007: Scholarship awards to the 12 National Finalists announced at the National Event

For instructions to enter the competition, please visit the website.