Knights Against Tobacco - Mount Pleasant High School
Posters That Tell a Story

These posters were developed by students of Mount Pleasant High School in a program called Knights Against Tobacco. The program was designed to increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco use and to let others know that most teens do not use tobacco. More information on the program can be seen at the bottom of this page.

Look for more posters in the future as the Knights Against Tobacco students continue their efforts to keep Mount Pleasant smoke free and help teens quit their tobacco habit. We are making a difference!!

Larger images and a description of the posters developed in this program can be seen by clicking on the thumbnails below.


In 2001,  students at Mount Pleasant High School along with their advisor, Beth Mattey, School Nurse, applied for a grant from the Division of Public Health’s Community Contract.  Students and staff had expressed concern and displeasure at the number of students who continued to use tobacco in the school restrooms despite the penalties for use on school grounds.  Recognizing that peer support is a great influence on teen behavior, a program was developed to highlight teens who do not use tobacco and to offer support to others to speak up against tobacco use.  We recognize that teens receive much of their information and are influenced by messages in the media.  Capitalizing on this information we developed a media program promoting the anti-tobacco message at Mount Pleasant.  Our unique social marketing media campaign promotes the message that most teens do not use tobacco.  We feature tobacco-free teens in original anti-tobacco posters and in student developed television commercials for our internal daily announcements. 

We have received wonderful support and training from the statewide group, the Kick Butts Generation and the statewide director, Sheri Towner-Gabrelcik.  Our student leaders are confident when addressing groups, young and old alike, and take pride in the accomplishments they have achieved through “Knights Against Tobacco”.  Most recently our group has been under the competent and intelligent leadership of graduating senior Robert Wiley.  Rob was a founding member of our group in January of 2001 and has helped to strengthen efforts in his calm respectful manner..  Other student leaders have included 2002 graduate Erika Peronti, 2003 graduates Dominique Carter, Ashley Coyle and Alex Reid.  Our upcoming leaders include members of the Class of 2006, Shenice Hutchinson, LaRhonda Floyd and Brittany McCants. 

Our goals which match those of Tobacco Free Delaware are:

  • Prevent tobacco use among young people
  • Increase the number of youth who disapprove of cigarette use
  • Reduce student’s exposure to tobacco smoke
  • Help students stop smoking
RESULTS

Our first year pre and post tests showed that we had less acceptance of tobacco use at Mount Pleasant by students. During our second year, a higher percentage of Mount Pleasant students recognized the dangers of tobacco use when compared to students from other state high schools. We hope to see continued positive trends when we receive the results from our surveys in 2004.