Press Release

PASS Recognized as Best in Nation in Tobacco Prevention

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- PASS was recognized as the number one tobacco prevention program in the country at the annual conference of the BACCHUS and GAMMA Peer Education Network Nov. 9-12, 2006, in Anaheim, Calif.

BACCHUS is a network of more than 32,000 student leaders and advisors on more than 900 campuses throughout the world.

"I couldn't be more proud of the students to win a national award and at the same time being a brand new organization," said Kim Dude, director of the Wellness Resource Center at University of Missouri-Columbia. The center works with the PASS group on their promotional and educational activities.

Every year BACCHUS gets around 100 applicants for its awards, said Dr. Amy Lukowski, a psychologist and associate director of health promotions at the BACCHUS Network.

"In terms of the tobacco award, the committee looks for a comprehensive program which includes peer education group size, impact on campus, what sets you apart in your efforts, a long-term program (over the course of the entire year vs. one event), and evaluation," Lukowski said.

PASS was created in 2006. The group has about a dozen active members and more than 200 supporters.

"The students of PASS take great pride in being awarded the 2006 Best Tobacco Prevention Program by the BACCHUS network," said Domingo Pacheco, PASS vice president. "We spent countless hours on political activism and, more than anything else, we have been propelled to work for change. This has allowed us to confirm that college students can make a substantial and permanent difference in the communities in which they live.

"And while we protect our surrounding community, national recognition has further inspired us to create change on own campus; the health of our nation's future is at stake," Pacheco said.