A Woodrow Wilson High School student posts a notice about flu shots in the WVU HSTA study on why so few high school students get them.
What’s the News?
A group of motivated high school students across West Virginia in the Health
Sciences and Technology Academy program partnered with WVU medical students to
find out why so few high school students get flu shots each year. They are
among hundreds of high school student research groups who will present their
findings at West Virginia State University in Institute April 29 and at
Fairmont State University May 6. Science presentations and hand-on activities
will be ongoing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both locations.
Quotes and Comments
“While HSTA students are not trained
health professionals, during the last ten years, they have demonstrated a
motivation and a power to bring research and health literacy to their
communities.” Ann Chester, Ph.D.,
WVU assistant vice president for health sciences for education partnerships.
In 2016, HSTA students from 22 schools in 19 counties in rural West Virginia participated in the flu research project. Over the course of three months they surveyed 2,559 of their fellow students.
West Virginia high school students who complete the HSTA program are eligible for college scholarships across the state. HSTA grads have a high success rate in college and many go on to graduate and professional schools.
Resources
Photo available for download
Target Audiences
• People interested in health and STEM
• People interested in education
• People interested in the growing gap between science and the public
• Parents with school-aged children
-WVU-
For information about the Research Symposia at West Virginia State University and Fairmont State University:
CONTACT: Summer Kuhn MPH, HSTA community research
associate
304.282.1819; slkuhn@hsc.wvu.edu
For general information about HSTA:
CONTACT: Ann
Chester, Ph.D., assistant vice president for health sciences for education
partnerships,
304.293.1026; achester@hsc.wvu.edu