York University’s School of Health Policy & Management is looking for Grade 12 students’ ideas to improve health in their communities – with an offer of free tuition for the best submission.

The Three Ways to Healthier Days Writing & Multimedia Competition asks students to address the following questions: What are the three most important decisions you would make right now to improve people’s health in your community? Why are these decisions the most important ones?

The contest is open to students currently enrolled in Grade 12; written and multimedia submissions will be accepted until January 7, 2011.

“Today’s high school students are tomorrow’s future leaders” says Tamara Daly, Assistant Professor, School of Health Policy & Management. “We want to hear about their great ideas and want to see their creativity.”

The first place winner will receive one year’s tuition credit to York’s School of Health Policy & Management, in any area of study; second prize is a $1,000 gift certificate, and third prize is a $500 gift certificate. In addition, the top three prize winners will be paired with a faculty member as a mentor for their first year, and their work will be published in the School’s online publication. To be eligible, entrants must be accepted to and enrolled full time in first year courses in the School by September 2011. There are two honorable mentions consisting of online publication, as well as a school class prize of $250 to the high school class with the most valid entries.

“Health care is an exciting area of study. Not only does it affect people in their everyday lives, but studying it in the interdisciplinary way that we do offers students so many possibilities in terms of moving directly into a job following graduation, or to continue their studies to become a health care professional such as a doctor, a lawyer, administrator, or a researcher,” Daly says.

The School of Health Policy & Management, part of York’s Faculty of Health, offers a broad perspective, teaching about all aspects of the health care system as well as other factors – such as wealth and ethnicity – that influence the health of Canadians. Learning takes places not only in classroom settings but also through field placements. The faculty in the School are internationally recognized for their research and teaching. Students can get a general Health Studies degree or specialize in Health Management, eHealth/Health Informatics, and Health Policy. The program’s flexibility allows students to complete pre-med and other professional course requirements, and prepares them for graduate-level work.

For more information about the contest, visit: http://www.yorku.ca/health/shpm/win-free-tuition-contest-rules.html

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York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 Faculties and 28 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.