School of Public Health

University of Memphis SPH Concludes Summer Camp Series with Memphis Youth Athletics

Thursday, 16 July 2026

The first week’s theme centered on "Eating Healthy" where UofM SPH Associate Dean of Public Health Practice and Community Engagement and Professor Marian Levy, DrPH, RD, FAND was invited to provide an informational lecture about healthy eating and good nutrition. Students in grades 3-5 designed posters to influence their peers to "Eat the Rainbow," while students grades 6-8 designed posters to convince fast food restaurants to include more healthy options in their menus. 

During Week 2 of the Memphis Youth Athletics Summer Camp, Dr. Marian Levy,  Lori M. Ward, PhD, Becky Kronenberg, Michelle Jeu, MPH and undergraduate student Preston Holmes from UofM SPH, spoke to campers about the importance of physical activity in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Campers also had the chance to present their favorite physical activities expressing why these activities were meaningful to them.  
 
Beyond getting to learn about healthy eating habits and the importance of physical activity, the camp was full of opportunities for youth to experience and explore, such as track & field-based exercises like pole vaulting as well as other learning adventures combining math, reading, nutrition and character development. 

To conclude their month-long learning, students were invited to summarize what they learned about the field of public health and how public health is important in their daily lives. 

The School of Public Health would like to extend a special thank you to Memphis Youth Athletics for inviting us to collaborate on such an important initiative. We are truly grateful to have taught these young minds about the importance of public health and we look forward to educating the next cohort of students in the future.