Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

High School Heroes Part Of A Successful State Event

High School Heroes, a joint effort of the American Lung Association of Arkansas, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the State Department of Education, enjoyed another successful year of educating Arkansas' children of the dangers of smoking. The organizations recently wrapped up the program for the 1997-98 school year and are looking forward to expanding into several new counties statewide for the 1998-99 year.

High School Heroes is a unique student-to-student teaching program with a strong anti- smoking message. Through High School Heroes, specially trained high school students present an anti-smoking program targeted to fifth graders in their school district. Using brainstorming, role- play, discussion and question and answer, the Heroes serve as positive role models for the kids. During the high energy program, they deliver strong testimonies about the dangers of smoking and deceptive appeals of tobacco companies while helping the kids reject peer pressure.

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is serving as the corporate sponsor for the High School Heroes program to support the American Lung Association's efforts to keep children from becoming the next generation of individuals addicted to tobacco.

"With more than 3,000 children starting to smoke nationwide each day, a program like this which targets children when they're beginning to make health choices is extremely important. If we can provide these kids with accurate information, they can make an informed decision about smoking and chose not to begin this deadly habit," Teresa Conner, program director for the American Lung Association, said.

During the past school year, the American Lung Association has trained 81 volunteer coordinators and 702 High School Heroes across the state to present this program in elementary and middle schools, reaching 9,021 fifth grade students.

The no-smoking program will continue in its current counties, while plans are made to expand the program in to St. Francis, Jefferson, Lonoke, Drew, Baxter, Crawford, Woodruff, Ouachita, Union, Calhoun, Columbia, Ashley and Bradley counties during the coming school year to reach 12,000 elementary students.

For more information on High School Heroes or any of the American Lung Association's programs, call the American Lung Association office at 1-800-880-5864.