Photo contest helps students make Nevada healthier

Students have a lot to say -- and this year Nevada students can voice their unique perspective and win big.

Nevada middle and high school students are asked to share their ideas on healthy eating and active living as part of the spring 2014 Photovoice Missouri photo contest.

Sponsored by Healthy Nevada and in collaboration with Photovoice Missouri, a project from the University of Missouri Health Communication Research Center, students take pictures around town to show ways Nevada residents can improve health in Nevada and Vernon County. The top three entries win a Kindle Fire.

Said Natalie Hampton, Photovoice Missouri coordinator, "The contest asks students to photograph situations in their community that either promote or deter healthy behaviors. They then write captions and use the captioned photos to raise awareness about what needs to be supported and what could use improvement.

"It's a great way to talk about healthy living from the viewpoint of youth and really show adults what the youth of the community have to say."

"This contest is a great way to get students involved in their health and their community," said Karen Marquardt of Healthy Nevada, who also works for Nevada Public Schools as a school nurse.

"We find that youth really do care about what's happening around them. They just don't always feel like adults will pay attention. Through these photos, students can tell us what's working and what's not working and really get invested in their school and community."

Entries are due March 16. For more information visit http://www.photovoicemissouri.org/.

Photovoice Missouri is a community-focused obesity prevention project of the Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), funded by the Healthy Lifestyle Initiative at University of Missouri Extension. Based at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, the HCRC specializes in evidence-based health communication strategies to reach individuals and improve community health outcomes.