Socorro Kids Kick Tobacco's Butt

Source from:  dchieftain.com June 21, 2008 06/23/2008

Teenagers are finalists in Advocate of the Year contest. Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter. Socorro teenagers took 3 of 5 finalist places in the 2008 "Youth Kicking Tobacco's Butt" Advocate of the Year contest. Lucero Montes, of Veguita, came in third place, while Maria Quezada, of Socorro, and Cinthia Quezada, also of Veguita, both earned honorable mentions. The awards were announced June 6 at the Fourth Annual Fame and Shame Awards in Albuquerque. All three girls work for Socorro General Hospital's Healthy Family Initiative. "All three of these girls are just great girls that are making a difference, and we're just excited to see them grow and blossom," said program director Beth Beers. New Mexico Voices for Children and The New Mexico Media Literacy Project coordinated and presented the contest along with the Fame and Shame Awards. The Socorro students competed against about 20 people from around New Mexico. Contestants were nominated and submitted essays on their past anti-tobacco work and what they hope to do in the future. "I was really pleased to see that I made it to the top five," Maria Quezada said. "I didn't know I'd make it that far." Maria Quezada, an incoming Socorro High School senior, has participated in Socorro Teens Are Reaching Students and Socorro Teens Against Tobacco meetings, as well as presentations in classrooms along with Laura Fazio of the Healthy Family Initiative. After finishing school, Maria Quezada wants to train to become a social worker to help teenagers. Fazio said Maria Quezada has volunteered since sixth grade. "She has been right there whenever we needed help," Fazio said. "Maria was the first to volunteer." Maria Quezada received the nomination because of her participation with Socorro Teens Against Tobacco and her good work in the classrooms. "She has the heart of a caring person," Fazio said. Montes, an incoming eighth-grader, volunteers to do tobacco education and prevention, particularly on second-hand smoke, with V-Tags, the youth advocacy coalition in Veguita. Montes said she was proud to take third place. "I didn't know I was going to win," she said. Montes volunteers for anti-tobacco education to help people in Veguita by encouraging them not to do drugs, she said. She has been helping with the effort for several months. Healthy Family Initiative's Richard Chavez said Montes takes a lot of leadership in the group. "And she jumps right in," he said. Beers said Montes is "an incredible young lady" with an "amazing level of maturity." The teenager often interprets for Beers, and did the whole presentation at the last health fair. Like Montes, Cinthia Quezada, an incoming sophomore, has become Beers' voice in Veguita with her bilingual skills. Beers called her a great young lady. "She has a tremendous amount of talent," Beers said. "I look forward to what she's going to do for her community in the future." The director also said Cinthia Quezada is making wonderful, healthy choices. Cinthia Quezada could not be reached for comment. Enditem