Contest Overview/Background
Elementary school-aged children regularly receive messages through educational
programs that focus on good nutrition, physical activity, and the negative
effects that smoking and drug use have on their health. However, once they reach
their teen years, there is a dramatic decrease in the amount of programming
available to them, and their awareness of healthy lifestyle messages suffers.
However, it is important that they continue to receive this information in order
to promote healthy habits across the various stages of their lives.
To speak to this unique target audience, the Student Artists for Healthy
Lifestyles contest began as a coordinated effort among the Arizona Department of
Health Services, Arizona Border Health Office, Arizona Department of Education,
American Academy of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, U.S.-Mexico Border
Commission, and Oficina de Salud Pública de la Frontera Sonora Arizona. Its goal
was to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors among high school students by
encouraging them to create visual artwork regarding good nutrition, physical
activity, and being tobacco-free.
The contest was pilot tested in high schools within the Steps to a Healthier
Arizona Initiative participating communities from January to April 2005. These
communities included Douglas, Nogales, Sells, and Yuma and the Sonora border
towns of Agua Prieta, Nogales, and San Luis Rio Colorado. The participating
schools each received a $500 grant for their high school arts program. Wining
entries received first through third place awards, including award plaques, gift
certificates, and tickets to an Arizona Diamondbacks’ baseball game.
Contest Results
The visual arts contest proved to be an innovative method for reaching this
unique audience in a way that captured their interest. The contest was able to
generate an interest in healthy lifestyles among high school students, opening
the door for further discussion on these topics. 181 students participated and
98 entries were submitted. In order for the students to create appropriate
messages for their artwork, they had to learn about the topics of good
nutrition, physical activity and being tobacco-free. The resulting artwork
reflected teen perceptions on healthy lifestyles, creating messages that would
also speak to other teens. The result? Messaging for teens, by teens.
Statewide Visual Arts Contest in 2006 - 2007
On the heels of a successful piloted arts contest in 2005, ADHS has partnered
with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona, Arizona Department of Education, and the
Governor’s Council on Fitness to conduct a statewide visual arts contest in 2006
- 2007. It is anticipated that the resulting messages regarding nutrition,
physical activity and being tobacco-free will reach over 200,000 high school
students.
Contact Information
For more information regarding the Student Artists for Healthy Lifestyles
contest, please contact:
Angie Lorenzo
Social Marketing Director
Arizona Department of Health Services
(602) 542-2629
lorenza@azdhs.gov
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