FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2006
American Academy of Family Physicians
800-274-2237
WASHINGTON - Mitchell Nolte, a fifth-grader from Anniston, Alabama, was named the 2006 Tar Wars National Poster Contest winner at a ceremony in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, July 18. As the national poster contest winner, Nolte receives a family trip to Disney World worth up to $3,000.
Tar Wars is a tobacco-free education program that discourages tobacco use among the country's youth. The program, which was established in 1988, is administered by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
In addition to Nolte, three runners-up, six honorable mentions and the state winners were recognized at the awards ceremony. All state winners in attendance at the awards ceremony received a prize packet and a savings bond.
Runners-up
Second place: Tiffany Palmer, New Martinsville, WV
Third place: Jessica Shenoi, Tulsa, OK
Fourth place: Jennifer Wentz, Salida, CO
Honorable Mentions
Fifth place: Olivia Hope Davis, Tallahassee, FL
Sixth place: Allison Duchesne, Greenville, RI
Seventh place: Kelly Nicole Moore, Stantonville, TN
Eighth place: Ryan Seay, Columbia, MS
Ninth place: Kallie Leise, Hartington, NE
Tenth place: Lauren Elizabeth Bice, Hendersonville, NC
The winning posters were chosen from 36 entries, all winners of state Tar Wars poster contests. Posters were judged on their artistry, creativity, originality and their ability to communicate a clear and positive message about being tobacco free.
Thousands of family physicians and health care professionals across the country present Tar Wars programs to fourth- and fifth-gaders in their local schools every year. They discuss not only the long-term effects of smoking on the body, but also focus on the short-term, image-based effects of tobacco use.
Counteracting the messages created in tobacco advertising, health care professionals talk with youth about how tobacco makes one's breath smell and how smoking can impair one's ability to be active and play sports. The students also learn about practical issues, such as how much it costs to use tobacco for a week, a month, a year and over a lifetime.
The follow-up Tar Wars poster contest encourages children to create posters that emphasize the positive aspects of not using tobacco.
Tar Wars was developed in 1988 by the Hall of Life at the Denver Museum of Natural History and Doctors Ought to Care. The AAFP has overseen the program since 1997. The program has been implemented in all 50 states, several territories and internationally, and it has reached more than 7 million children.
If you would like to interview one of the students or one of the family physicians who presents the Tar Wars program, please call 800-274-2237.
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents more than 94,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical specialty society devoted solely to primary care. Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to general and family physicians. That is 223 million office visits each year - 82 million more than to any other medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide the majority of care for America's underserved and rural populations. To learn more about the American Academy of Family Physicians and about the specialty of family medicine, please visit http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html.
