The Child Health Lab is proud to announce that our submission, Microbes & Me: An Educational Coloring Book, has been awarded first place in the inaugural Cross Lerner Center Health Messaging Competition hosted by Columbia University.
To advance to the cross-school competition, our submission first competed in the university-wide preliminary Health Messaging Competition, where it was awarded second place. The top two finalists represented Syracuse University in the cross center competition with sister Lerner Centers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Medical Center.
Click the buttons below to view the placement announcements for the cross center competition and the preliminary SU-wide competition.
2026 Cross Lerner Center Student Competition SU Lerner Center Health Messaging Competition
“This is a really creative, thoughtful project that uses storytelling in a fun and effective way for kids and caregivers. The “microbes as friends” idea works really well and keeps the messaging positive and engaging. The design fits the format, and the plan is solid, with some room to expand reach. Overall, a strong, innovative project with great long-term potential.”
“This is a finished, professionally illustrated product with an exceptional evidence base, a concrete zero-cost dissemination plan, and strong social justice framing (countering harmful appearance-based messaging, free distribution removing cost barriers, reaching WIC and community health clinic families).”
SU Lerner Center Competition judge comments on Microbes & Me
About Microbes & Me
Related Resources
Educational
The Gut Foundation’s KidZone: For fun kid-friendly information about your microbial friends, visit the KidZone webpage on New Zealand’s Gut Foundation website: https://www.thegut.org.nz/kidzone/
Food Pantries
- Search for pantries near you at https://www.211cny.com/services/
- CNY Food Bank: https://foodbankcny.org/
- Coach Mac Food Pantry at Syracuse University: https://chapel.syracuse.edu/student-support/food-pantry/
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
Disclosures
All illustrations and visual elements were hand-drawn by Megan Milligan with the exception of font styles. All text was authored by Milligan and informed by the resources and scholarly sources on the References slide above.
All other team members reviewed and edited the coloring book and oversaw the preparation of slides for competition submission and/or presented the submission at competition meetings.
No generative AI was used in the making of this project.