Video: Meet the winners!

Four Hillsborough County students won the 15th annual "Stomp It Out" poster and video contest. The contest was open to any middle school or any high school student in Hillsborough and Pinellas County.  This unique competition helps in the efforts to bring awareness to and reduce the number of youth using tobacco.  The contest focuses specifically on the hazards of tobacco use.   "Secondhand Smoke" produced by Sickles High school students Steven Simone and Ryan Uhle and "Smoke Free" poster created by Sickles' student Ashley Couser.  Five finalist of the poster and video contest were placed on Channel 10's website and over 2400 people voted their entries the winners.  Not only do they receive a $200 American Express gift card, but their school also receives $200 for school supplies.  Connor Stonesifer who co-chairs the event with his father, Kurt Stonesifer, attends Berkeley Prep. and will also appear on the show. 

According to Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 19,800 kids will become new daily smokers each year.  Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined - and thousands more die from other-related causes - such as fires caused by smoking and smokeless tobacco use.   

88 Floridians die each day from tobacco related deaths.  Contact the Florida Quitline at 1-877-822-6669 (1-877-U-CAN-NOW ) when you need a helping hand to quit. 

This contest sponsors are The American Cancer Society, Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, Tobacco Free Partnership of Hillsborough County,  Weisser Family Foundation, and the Florida Quitline. 

For more information on tobacco programs in Hillsborough County,  contact Laurie Ellston, Tobacco Prevention Program Director at 813-842-0734 or lellston@gmail.com or www.hcada.com/SWAT