Jonas Salk: The First Polio Vaccine

On October 4, 1951, at 12:51 a.m. Henrietta Lacks died. Shortly after Henrietta’s death, the construction of what would be called the HeLa factory began. It’s sole purpose, to end polio. In February of 1952, Jonas Salk announced that he had developed the world’s first polio vaccine, but couldn’t administer it until further testing.

Have you ever heard of Henrietta Lacks, Phineas Gage, or Douglas Mawson? All of these people underwent major struggles for the sake of science, but one stands out more than the rest. Henrietta Lacks was a woman who died at age 31 due to cervical cancer; her cells helped form a multi-million dollar industry (“Immortal Cells, Enduring Issues”). Phineas Gage was a railroad worker who had once shoved a iron rod into a blasting hole, which caused the rod to shoot into his skull. Gage faced side effects from this that led scientists to uncover details on the frontal lobe of the brain, and brain disorders (“The Man with the Hole in his Brain”).

One of the biggest contribution was the polio vaccine.

This allowed the vaccine to be cheap to research and have a low cost. Since it was cheap to research Albert Sabin was able to create an oral polio vaccine. The oral vaccine is now used to vaccinate people in developing countries. Around the 1950s there was a polio epidemic and the cheap cost made it available to everyone, and since 1979 there have been no reported cases of polio in the United States. It should be disclosed that at the time patenting a biological agent was unheard

After establishing his own dance company, he got much recognition inside an outside of the dance world. He was asked multiple times to choreograph for other companies including a dance for the well known American Ballet Theater, named The River. In 1988, Alvin received the Kennedy Center Honors Prize for his contributions to the arts. In 1979 Alvin won the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP and the Capezio Award. Recently in 2014, 25 years after Alvin Ailey’s death, Barack Obama selected Alvin Ailey to be the recipient of the Presidential Metal of

Polio is an infectious viral disease that affects the central nervous system. The year 1950, a year before Henrietta Lacks died, was the peak of the polio

Ryan Humpal: A logical candidate for the Jefferson Award Youth need more strong, and more influential leaders because they help with sports, life skills, and becoming better people in general. The Jefferson Award is an award given to people who help in the community and impact people’s lives. An individual worth noticing is Ryan Humpal, Ryan Humpal is an Amery High School science teacher and head football coach and has done this for about 14 years. Humpal doesn’t just go and coach, he puts together things for players to do by themselves to get better. The Jefferson Award should be given to Ryan Humpal because he loves to compete and has the drive to work hard at whatever he does, whether coaching or teaching.

Polio: An American Story written by David Oshinsky highlights the journey to the discovery of a vaccine which would finally put an end to the once mysterious disease, Poliomyelitis. The journey begins in Otter Valley, Vermont, as it was the first Polio epidemic to be documented in the United States. Unknowingly, it would take years after the first epidemic in 1894 to find a solution for this frightening illness. The disease dates back to ancient time, with cases describing the victims to be left with disfigured limbs and some eventually to be paralyzed. Oshinsky identifies that the disease appeared in three phases: endemic, which occurs in a sporadically within a group of people, epidemic, in which it affected many people and spread rapidly,

He received 14 academic awards during his time at Queen’s university, for example, a general merit award in Latin granted to him by his peers in 1850. After his death, multiple awards were created and awarded to individuals, for example, The Robert Sutherland prize. This prize is presented annually by the Alma Mater Society to a graduating and self-defined student of colour who has shown leadership and initiative at the university, specifically individuals encouraging and promoting diversity on campus. Past participants include 2005-06: Jacqueline Kiggundu, 2006-07: Tka Pinnock, 2007-08: Eden Abraham, Darcel

In 1979 through 1982, Goldsworthy has received four awards. He received his first award around the age of 23 and it was the “North West Arts

Throughout the 19th and 20th century, there have been medical inventions and discoveries that have prevented countless medical conditions and diseases, resulting in healthier lives for American citizens. Although there were many inventions and discoveries made throughout this period, the 1950s had the largest impact on the lives of American citizens. Throughout the decade, many impactful discoveries were made that have both saved and drastically lengthened the lives of many people. Because of this, the 1950s were one of the most important decades for the discovery of medical diseases and conditions. The key medical advancements made during the 1950s include the creation of the polio vaccine that has saved countless lives since its creation,

He also excelled in various sports, which earned him a scholarship, on the University of Illinois, in football. However he was transferred to the North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro. His career as the civil right activist began while he was a student. He was elected to be student body president and fought against the segregation laws which were represented in those times in theatre, libraries and restaurants. He graduated with a degree in psychology and then went on the Theological seminary in Chicago.

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born on October 27, 1858, in New York City. When Teddy Roosevelt was a young boy, doctors discovered that he had a weak heart, and advised him to get a desk job and not strain himself. So in his early days he spent a lot of time in his family fabulous garden and was also homeschooled due to his asthma and other illnesses. He had a great passion for animal life and nature but in his teens his father encouraged him greatly to start lifting and boxing. When his father died during his second year at Harvard College, Roosevelt channeled his grief into working even harder.

For all his hero acts and peaceful protests that helped people all over the US get rid of discrimination , he received the Nobel Peace prize in 1964.(Source

Modern medicine provides people with the ability to protect themselves from the world’s most fatal diseases. Merely a century ago, it was not uncommon for a child to die as a result of diseases such as polio, pertussis, and tuberculosis. Today, it is highly unlikely for a person to contract these diseases, let alone die from them. However, refusal of vaccinations has been increasing throughout the years due to the anti-vaccination movement. This movement declares mandatory vaccines unconstitutional and vaccinations overall as the cause of autism.