Benicia Students Honored With Award From Tobacco-Free Coalition

BENICIA, CA — Benicia High School's Friday Night Live student club received the Tobacco Free Solano Coalition’s annual Alvina Sheeley Memorial Advocate Award for their efforts, along with those of their community partners, to encourage and support new tobacco ordinances that not only bans smoking in public places including multi-unit housing, but also bans the sale of flavored products within Benicia.

During the TFS Coalition's annual luncheon meeting, held Jan. 22, the club was was acknowledged specifically for the work they have done over the past year and a half to combat tobacco in their community.

Using a grant from the California Friday Night Live Partnership, the Benicia High FNL held a park clean-up, developed a presentation about e-cigarettes and vapes for students, and underwent public speaking training in order to speak at City Council meetings about how tobacco, especially flavored products, as well as second-hand smoke have impacted their community.

"I was impressed when seven members of the club confidently stood in front of me and the rest of the council, staff, and residents of Benicia on Nov. 19, 2019 and spoke to us about the effects of tobacco on their peers and their campus," said Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, who was on hand Jan. 22 to present the award.

"Speaking from a personal perspective, when youth stand up and tell adults who are making decisions about their lives and about their future, by-golly you will see those decision-makers make the right decision!" Patterson said.

Three student representatives from Benicia High’s FNL Club, co-Presidents Katie Han and Alex Cortez, and Vice President Aimee Han, attended the luncheon.

"We are shocked to be getting this award," Alex said.

"Benicia Friday Night Live stands here today because of our progressive youth and the opportunities we have to speak out on decisions that deeply impact our future," Katie said. "We are absolutely honored to represent our club and accept this distinguished award."

Tobacco Free Solano is a countywide volunteer organization which advocates for smoke-free environments and preventing smoke and vape use among teenagers. The award's namesake, Sheeley, was a TEC co-chair and Fairfield-Suisun teacher who died in 2018. During her time with TFS, Sheeley was an adamant advocate for tobacco-free spaces and recipient of Volunteer of the Year.

The Jan. 22 meeting featured guest speaker Carol McGruder, co-chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, who spoke about tobacco's history of targeting minority communities, and specifically the results of tobacco use in the black community.