The contest called on participants to create a public service announcement urging people to take  precautions against the spread of COVID-19. Lauren’s winning entry is a fantasy-themed video that shows the coronavirus spreading like a flock of tiny dragons.

Lauren credited an online video production class during summer’s Sally Ride Science Junior Academy for honing her skills. “I took a weeklong class from Sally Ride Science at UCSD, and I learned a ton in that class and was able to use those skills in this video,” she said in an interview on FOX 5.

In announcing the contest results, the Union-Tribune said, “Lauren’s creative video caught the judges’ attention with its whimsical approach to the harsh realities of COVID-19 and has been selected to run as a campaign to Stop the Spread.”

Lauren’s concern about coronavirus prevention is part of a larger interest in the health field. “My ultimate goal is to go to medical school and work in health care,” she said.

More than 90 videos were submitted for the contest. The top finalists were Tanith Sloan, Natasha LaBeaud, Kathryn Monroe, JD Duncan and Ken Jacques.

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