American Heart Association Names 15 Youth Heart Ambassadors to Address Rising Health Challenges

The American Heart Association has selected 15 first through 12th grade students from across the United States as national Youth Heart Ambassadors for the 2025-26 school year, responding to rising rates of mental and physical health challenges among young Americans. These ambassadors, representing the Association's Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge initiatives, will use their personal experiences with heart disease and stroke to encourage healthy habits and support children with heart conditions.

Each ambassador brings a unique connection to cardiovascular health issues, whether as survivors or advocates. Their roles include promoting physical and mental well-being, raising awareness of heart disease and stroke prevention, and advocating for Hands-Only CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. The selection comes at a critical time, as research cited by the Association indicates concerning trends in children's health outcomes.

The ambassadors include students like Heather, a 10th grader from California who survived a cardiac arrest at school thanks to immediate CPR and AED intervention. Her advocacy focuses on strengthening cardiac emergency response plans in educational settings. Similarly, Ridge, a fourth grader from Texas, received a heart transplant in 2023 after multiple surgeries and now shares his story to support the Heart Association's mission.

Other ambassadors include Ava from West Virginia, born with Tetralogy of Fallot who had open-heart surgery at three days old; Bodhi from California who underwent corrective heart surgery at age 3; and Dylan from Oklahoma, born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome requiring three surgeries. These students, along with their peers, represent diverse backgrounds and experiences but share a common commitment to improving heart health awareness.

The American Heart Association's school programs are designed to improve both physical and emotional well-being while supporting academic success. Schools interested in participating can register for the 2025-26 school year through the Association's official portal. The Youth Heart Ambassador program represents a strategic approach to addressing youth health challenges by empowering those directly affected to become agents of change in their communities.