Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 4 December 2008 — Page 12

Page 12 • The Muncie Times • December 4, 208

continued from page 1 School press conference sponsored by the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), in collaboration with the Tobacco Free Coalition of Delaware County, the Minority Tobacco Free Coalition of Delaware County and Delaware County Coordinating Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Scaife, a senior, has a 3.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale. He has signed a letter of intent with Ball State University. As role model/spokesperson/amba ssador, Scaife’s message is that he “actively rejects tobacco” and uiges other young people to do the same. Approximately, 25 family members, friends school staff and students attended the press conference to greet Scaife and view the unveiling of his wall banger (known in professional sports as fat heads) and receive a signed poster with his image. Also made available were game schedules bearing his likeness. Cecilia Williams, program coordinator of the communitybased coalition, said a billboard will be up on Dec .8. The billboard will be at Wheeling and Centennial avenues. The wall bangers will be at Muncie Central High and Northside Middle schools. Scaife told The Muncie limes he was honored to have been chosen. “I didn’t know what to expect in the

Judy Mays seen here with Jauwan Scaife and Cecilia Williams

beginning and I was curious as to what it was,” he said. He said being a role model and anti-tobacco youth advocate is a great learning experience. “I think that I have impacted a lot of young students and I am honored to be a role model. I really want the youth to know that drugs and tobacco are no joke and that what tobaccofree advocates are teaching about the harmful effects of tobacco use is true. I also want them to be careful about who they surround themselves with, their peer group, because that is really a big problem. Scaife is talking and motivating youths to be smoke free, while also learning the facts about tobacco products and their effects. For instance, what

has really stuck with me is that teenagers die every 10 seconds, due to a tobaccorelated illness, he said. Scaife said being involved in helping others make the decision to be dmg and tobacco free has made a strong impression on him and the youths he speaks to. Td have to say that my most memorable experience to date is the pep rally at Wilson Middle School during Red Ribbon Week,” he said. “When I first started talking it didn’t seem as though the students were very interested, but at the end there were lots of questions and the students were really curious about how I handle myself without drugs or tobacco.” Scaife said that one of the most frequently asked ques-

tions he gets is about peer pressure, what if a friend keeps trying to get you to smoke. He answered, “My friends know my standards. If I had a friend that kept trying to get me to do something that I didn’t want to do, I’d have to ask myself if he were truly my friend and if I needed to walk away from that relationship. “African American men are disproportionately affected by tobacco, compared to their white counterparts” said Williams. “It makes sense to highlight young black men being tobacco free in our community by incorporating that into the IHSAA Role Model Program The IHSAA program is an advocacy program designed to encourage

youth and adults to refrain from using tobacco products while at the same time reminding high school student athletes that they are role models for their communities. Last year’s program involved over 100 schools representing 45 counties. In a survey conducted among students from participating high schools, 90 percent of the respondents agreed that the program is an effective way to reach peers. To learn more about the coalitions contact Cecilia Williams at 281-2745 ext. 22 or [email protected] or Judy Mays at 741-8332 or [email protected] Pat Hart may be reached at 289 -7288 or [email protected]