Josilyn Mitchell, a Parkview 10th grader, was recognized this summer as a finalist in the National Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 2009 Youth Advocates of the Year Awards.
Josilyn was the only recipient named from the State of Arkansas and Southern Region to receive this prestigious award.
As a finalist, Josilyn traveled on an expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. for a Youth Advocacy Symposium. The trip included a visit with Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor and other members of congress. The student delegates thanked the congress members for supporting the historic U. S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) passage of the The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Award honors top youth across the country that have fought hard to promote tobacco prevention legislation in their home states, to reduce tobacco marketing to kids in their communities and to stop their peers from using tobacco.
Josilyn is an active member of the Arkansas YES Team (Youth Extinguishing Smoking), Tobacco Control Youth Board and the speaker’s bureau Team YES Speaks (www.yesteam.org).