NYC Students Close the School Year with Creative Advocacy on Vaping Prevention

July 11, 2025  | By Eileen Kitrick

Middle and high schoolers across New York City are awarded for their creative expression in the second round of our Youth Vaping Prevention PSA Contest

Key Highlights

• Community partnerships integrate meaningful and impactful youth vaping prevention program and initiatives into New York City public schools.
• A creative project to middle and high school students to empower them and foster engagement.

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In partnership with the New York Health Foundation, The New York Community Trust, New York City Public Schools, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene our evidence-based youth vaping prevention program, CATCH My Breath, continues to expand across New York City public schools. To date, more than 700 educators have been trained to deliver this curriculum.

As part of this initiative, the Youth Vaping Prevention PSA Contest, offers students a fun and meaningful outlet to deepen their understanding, express their creativity, and advocate for healthy choices. The contest features three rounds, each with a unique artistic medium, and awards cash prizes to four winners from both middle and high school grade levels.

The first round-winners were selected and celebrated for their creative poster submissions in March 2025.

We are announcing the second-round winners, selected by a panel of judges including, July Merizier, MPH, Community Initiatives Manager, Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Dale Mantey, PhD, Assistant Professor, UTHealth School of Public Health Austin. Watch the inspiring work of these students as they use their creativity to drive impact.