Brenna Bastin of New Palestine High School attended a gala in Wasington D.C. for her work to empower teens to have a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Submitted photo
HANCOCK COUNTY – Two Hancock County students were recognized nationally for being advocates in a tobacco-free future.
Brenna Bastin of New Palestine High School and Gracie Castner of Eastern Hancock High School are part of VOICE Indiana, a youth empowerment organization focused on engaging, educating and empowering teens to have a tobacco-free lifestyle. The organization received the Group Youth Advocates of the Year award at a May 18 gala by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Bastin was among four teens selected as an outstanding member of the group to accept the award in Washington D.C.
“We are thrilled to honor VOICE Indiana as our Group Youth Advocates of the Year,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in a press release. “VOICE Indiana is a model organization that demonstrates the power that youth voices can have in standing up to the tobacco industry. These four exceptional young advocates further exemplify the qualities of a new generation of leaders who are leading the way toward a healthier, tobacco-free future.”
Every year, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids honors a National Youth Advocate of the Year, four Individual Youth Advocates of the Year and one Group Youth Advocates of the Year. The winners receive scholarships to continue their tobacco prevention efforts and serve as youth ambassadors for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the press release, killing over 480,000 Americans and costs the nation $241 billion in tobacco-related health care costs each year. Tobacco kills more than 8 million people worldwide every year.
In Indiana, tobacco use claims 11,100 lives annually and costs $3.40 billion in health care bills each year. Currently, 5.2% of Indiana high school students smoke cigarettes, and 18.5% use e-cigarettes.
The youth ambassadors who represented VOICE at the Catalysts for Change ceremony were: Suhita Chintachalaruvu from Hamilton Southeastern High School; Nicole Liu from Noblesville High School; and Hannah Martin from F.J. Reitz High School. In addition to Castner, other ambassadors that are part of the group award but did not attend the event were Lauren Jeffries from Boone Grove High School and Nelli McLeod from Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
