Cornelius student group earns national stage for blood-pressure research

A group of Lake Norman high schoolers who spend their free time checking neighbors' blood pressure will present their findings at a national cardiology conference in October.

Longevity LKN, a student-led nonprofit based in Cornelius, had its research abstract accepted for a poster presentation at the American Heart Association's Hypertension 2026 Scientific Sessions, scheduled for Oct. 7–11 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. The AHA describes the conference as the premier scientific meeting on hypertension in the world.

The abstract draws on 186 documented adult encounters in which trained student volunteers measured blood pressure, provided plain-language health education and shared referral information, News of Davidson reported on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The group operates in community and food-access settings across Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville. In February, the students partnered with FeedNC, a local food-access nonprofit, to offer free screenings. FeedNC announced the collaboration on its Facebook page, describing Longevity LKN as a student-led nonprofit started by local high schoolers.

Three co-presidents lead the organization: Alex Ajjan, Piper Pritchard and Adam Rezai, who founded the group. Volunteers do not diagnose anyone. Instead, they walk people through what their numbers mean and provide approved next-step information for anyone whose reading warrants follow-up.

Beyond the 186-encounter study, the team is reconciling a larger set of program records for a broader evaluation focused on reach, partnerships and sustainability, according to the News of Davidson report. Community screenings continue while the group strengthens its data governance, training and succession systems.

Residents interested in volunteering can email [email protected]. The Lake Norman Beacon will follow up after the October conference with results from the presentation.