Announcing the Winners of the 2026 Philadelphia Public Health Futures Challenge
Accelerate Health Equity (AHE) and Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health (DSPH) recently invited students across Philadelphia in Grades 3–12 to participate in the Philadelphia Public Health Futures: A Writing & Art Challenge. This challenge encourages young people to think critically, express their creativity, and imagine solutions that can help build healthier and more equitable communities in Philadelphia. Students were invited to submit analytical writing or original artwork that explores important public health issues in their communities — including clean air, safe neighborhoods, access to healthy food, and mental health.
"Having spent much of my career at the intersection of youth development and public health, I see this contest as a powerful way to introduce a new generation to the field. It invites students to engage with public health on their own terms, whether it be through writing, art, and/or personal expression...this contest helps expand how we can think about public health and show that it’s not just a discipline, but also a lived, creative, and community-centered experience."
- Tariem Burroughs, PhD, MS.Ed, MSODL, FNAP, Lead of the Philadelphia Public Health Futures Challenge and Executive Director of External Partnerships — Drexel University, Dornsife School of Public Health
Judges from Drexel University's DSPH reviewed dozens of visual and written submissions from students across the city and chose one winner each from elementary, middle, and high school in the visual art challenge, and one winner overall in the writing challenge. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all the students who expressed themselves by participating in the contest! Here is a spotlight of the 2026 Philadelphia Public Health Futures winners:
Writing Challenge
Winner: Angeliah Story – Grade 12 at Philadelphia High School for Girls
Public Health Issue: Gun Violence
"I Don't Flinch" by Angeliah Story
Visual Art Challenge
Elementary School
Winner: Maya Andrews – Grade 3 at Friends' Central School
Public Health Issue: Healthy Food and Nutrition
"Our Healthy City" by Maya Andrews
"My project Our Healthy City shows the main things that need to change. First in the bottom right corner a kid is planting a tree to help with the new community garden to grow food for the supermarket. My next part is the supermarket for all where anyone can shop no matter what color they are. In my final part you can see one person helping an older person up. And that is everything I put in my drawing."
Middle School
Winner: Sanaa Andrews – Grade 8 at Friends' Central School
Public Health Issue: Mental Health
"Opposite Pairs" by Sanaa Andrews
"This piece comments on the ability for two seemingly opposites to make a perfect pair. It displays how two very different kinds of people can come together and build a beautiful community. I used each set of colors to hint at a different kind of person. The blue represents a stable and consistent kind of person. The orange compliments it by representing an enthusiastic and energetic person. Continuing, the red and green represent danger and safety respectively. Finally, the purple represents contemplation and imagination while the yellow represents attention and focus. In conclusion, this piece displays how opposites cannot only balance each other, but also create a better and healthier community."
High School
Winner: Sabah Dorgan – Grade 10 at Science Leadership Academy (Center City)
Public Health Issue: Clean Air and Pollution
"Clouded Judgement" by Sabah Dorgan
"My artwork shows a variety of health problems caused by smoking and vaping. It's important for people to know the risks of using these products. Smoking and vaping doesn't just affect the person using the product, it also affects the people surrounding them. Secondhand smoke is very common in Philadelphia, and it's important that people are aware that their actions can harm others as well."
