1999 Award Winners National Winner East Mid-West Central South West Group Award

Sarah Conklin's future as she sees it is in politics, with a focus on tobacco prevention and education. At 14, Sarah is living her future today. As a result of her commitment to preventing youth tobacco use, she is the recipient of the 1999 East Regional Youth Advocates of the Year Award from the Washington, DC-based CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS.

Sarah, an 8th grader at Barrington Middle School in Barrington, Rhode Island, became involved in tobacco prevention after her grandfather died from smoking-related emphysema three years ago. In Rhode Island 1,800 people die every year from smoking and if current youth smoking trends continue, 23,000 youth under 18 who now smoke will die prematurely.

"I intend to spend the rest of my life trying to capture tobacco, a killer on the loose," said Sarah. "It is never too early or too late to educate someone about tobacco and its deadly effects."

Sarah's primary efforts have been in creating smoke-free environments. She spent four months researching the effects of secondhand smoke and polling restaurant owners on attitudes about smoking. The results of her research led to her partnering with state Representative Lawrence Ferguson to draft legislation that would outlaw smoking in restaurants and other eating establishments. Introduced during the last session of the Rhode Island legislature, this bill did not pass out of committee. However, by working with additional lawmakers and a cadre of adults from health agencies and the public at large, the legislation has been reintroduced.

"My job will not be done until people have the right to breathe clean air," said Sarah. "It will not be done until young people stop smoking."

Recognizing that legislation is only one means of making her message heard, Sarah is involved in educating her peers about the dangerous effects of tobacco use. She is a member of the Barrington Prevention Connection, a substance abuse prevention task force, where she has the opportunity to speak to youth of all ages. This extraordinary young woman is frequently asked to communicate her position and does not hesitate to speak publicly. She has addressed a statewide gathering of young people and adults, has testified before the Rhode Island House of Representatives' Committee on Health, Education and Welfare and has delivered remarks to parents and youth at a D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony. Seeking another means to influence her peers, Sarah has co-founded a youth task force. This group will seek to address problems facing area teens, including tobacco addiction.

"We can work together and not use punishment and threat, but education and the law, to reduce youth tobacco use" said Sarah.

Last year, in recognition of Sarah's strong commitment, the American Lung Association of Rhode Island presented Sarah with its highest award, the 1998 Peter J. Murray Service Excellence Award.

In her role as Youth Advocate of the Year, she will serve as a spokesperson for the CAMPAIGN at media events, share her views on tobacco prevention issues with both her peers and adults, work to increase awareness of the tobacco industry's insidious youth marketing tactics, and encourage kids across the country to take a stand against tobacco use in their communities.