Sierra Madre Middle School Students Recognized for Contributions to Public Health Education Initiative

Sierra Madre Middle School students Arya Kiang, Noah Marquez, Sebastian De Los Reyes, Holly Kim, Alicia Dixon, Ava Ayvazyan, Emma Ayvazyan, and Josiah Dev Anandhan have been recognized for their contributions to the creation of a public health educational video developed for Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D., a community science project designed to engage students in public health and mosquito surveillance efforts.

The program was introduced to Sierra Madre Middle School through a partnership between Mr. Dev, an eighth-grade science teacher, and the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District. The student-produced video serves as a guide for participants, walking middle school students through each step of the Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. project and supporting its implementation throughout the district’s service area.

School and district leaders expressed their gratitude for the students’ dedication and hard work in helping make the video possible. Their efforts have contributed to an important educational resource that promotes public health awareness and community engagement among students across the region.

About Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D.

Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D. is a community science program that gives middle school students hands-on experience using the same surveillance tools employed by vector ecologists to detect invasive Aedes mosquitoes, which can transmit diseases such as dengue fever. Participants learn how to identify Aedes mosquito eggs under a microscope and gain a deeper understanding of mosquito biology and public health.

The instructional video created with the help of Sierra Madre Middle School students demonstrates each stage of the program, including mosquito identification throughout all life stages, the elimination of breeding habitats, and strategies for preventing mosquito bites. Students are also encouraged to monitor their own yards and neighborhoods to reduce standing water and help prevent mosquito populations from growing. Featuring student peers as guides, the video makes the program both accessible and engaging for young participants.

The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is a special district that provides vector-borne disease surveillance, prevention, education, and public outreach services to 26 cities and unincorporated communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley, including Sierra Madre and Pasadena. Through its EcoHealth Vector Education program, the district also serves more than 20 school districts and over 500 public and private schools through classroom instruction, community science projects, and other educational initiatives.

Sierra Madre Middle School, 160 N. Canon Avenue, Sierra Madre, (626) 396-5910 or visit https://smms.pusd.us/.