17-year-old Shoshanna Goldin, a junior at Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, describes herself as your average teenager, but by just talking to her, it's easy to tell she is driven and focused.
"I'd like to be a pediatric neurologist or an epidemiologist," Shoshanna said.
And that's why she entered the prestigious Young Epidemiology Scholars Competition in Washington.
She submitted the results of her research project on the growing problem and health risks of young people consuming high-caffeine energy drinks.
"Even the CDC hasn't done a full extent of the study on potentials of the energy drinks in the teenage population and to bring this out was really amazing," Shoshanna said.
Her presentation thoroughly impressed the judges and her conclusions will be used in efforts to regulate the sales of energy drinks to teenagers.
She also took home a $50,000 scholarship award for her efforts.
Students from all across the country entered this competition, but only a handful walk away with the $50,000 scholarship prize. Ironically, one of the other top prize winners is from the Delaware Valley.
She is 16-year-old Gazelle Zerafati, a junior at the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr.
"The study that I presented to the YES Competition was regarding the prevalence of migraine among teenage girls and for my project I won $50,000, first place," Gazelle said.
Both of these young scholars are still in the process of deciding on colleges, but Shoshanna tells Action News they both agree that their primary goals in life are not to make a buck, but rather to make a difference.
