FortBendNow.com

Six Fort Bend Independent School District middle school artists were honored recently for their winning entries in the 2009 Great American Smoke Out – Graphic Arts Contest during a reception at the new Houston Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land.

Muhammad Zaky Irfan, Mariah Booe, Deasia Dell and Brian Minaya

The contest, hosted by the Tobacco Free Fort Bend Coalition, is an educational tool held annually to teach young people about the dangers of tobacco use and second hand smoke.  All entries were judged on their artistic quality and ability to incorporate information regarding tobacco.  Winning pieces will be collected and reproduced as a coloring book for elementary school students.

Student winners included Amita Batra, Mariah Booe, Tyler Colbert, Deasia Dell, Muhammad Zaky Irfan and Brian Minaya representing Baines, First Colony and Lake Olympia Middle Schools.

“Tobacco Free Fort Bend has held this contest for nine years, and each year our middle school students have stepped forward to help educate their communities through their outstanding artwork,” said Mary Ann Dolezal who chairs Tobacco Free Fort Bend.  “Secondhand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer, heart disease, low birth weight, chronic lung ailments, illnesses in children and other health problems. By educating ourselves on the dangers of second hand smoke, we can help reduce the burden of tobacco on our community.”