Gov. Holcomb visits Culver to highlight vape-free campaign 

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, joined by State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver, visited Culver Elementary School on Tuesday to recognize students, staff and community leaders for taking on a vape-free initiative, encouraging student engagement through a T-shirt design contest.

Having finished learning about the dangers of nicotine and vaping, fourth graders of Culver Elementary School received a special visit from Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb on Tuesday. 

Students were excited to hear that Holcomb would be landing by helicopter and brought over to the elementary school by motorcade. Roughly 60 fourth graders waited patiently in the gymnasium for his arrival around 11 a.m.

Holcomb was joined by State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver in celebrating the students' engagement in the vape-free curriculum, which culminated with a student T-shirt design contest. The winning design came from fourth grader Kynedi Ogle, who was all smiles when receiving her shirt personally from Holcomb. Each fourth grader received a T-shirt with Ogle's design and donned it for a picture with the governor. 

The education students received was made possible by Health First Indiana funding received by the Marshall County Health Department and dispersed in part to Breathe Easy Marshall County Alliance. 

"Jalysa (Gibson) and I would like to extend a heartful thanks to everyone who provided the Breathe Easy Marshall County Alliance the opportunity to educate the fourth grade students on You and Me Vape Free," Marshall County Tobacco Education Coordinator Annette Haining said. "It's been an incredible, incredible experience to reach out to the elementary schools, not just here in Culver, but throughout Marshall County."

Haining gave special thanks to the Health First Indiana initiative and Weaver, as well as the Marshall County Health Department for its unwavering support in the endeavor. 

Gibson, youth coordinator for Marshall County with St. Joseph Health System, provided background on the evidence-based, two-session program. 

"The first session talks about the health disparities, but we really dig into what it does to the adolescent brain. That is the biggest issue that we see, especially with vaping, is the issues that it causes for mental health and for behavior," Gibson said. "And then we talk about how it affects the rest of our body, but also how it affects those around us through secondhand and thirdhand smoke. 

"The second session we talk about environmental issues, how e-cigarettes are not properly disposed of; we talk about peer pressure and we talk about stress, learning how to deal with stress in a positive way through things like reading, going outside, talking to a trusted person, listening to music, or even taking a nap."

Weaver reemphasized to students that a big part of being vape-free is making good decisions. 

"I'm really excited to be here today because many years ago, our governor said, 'We can do better in health in Indiana,' and from that came the initiative of Health First Indiana, and that allowed for every single county in the state to get money to be able to do really important programs like the vape-free program," she said. "I am so proud of all of you. I'm proud of the school, I'm proud of our health systems and of our county health departments for the work that they're doing."

Because of such efforts, Weaver was excited to share that Marshall County has the seventh lowest smoking rate in the state. Furthermore, she claimed the smoking rate among youth is declining. 

"What you are doing is what really makes me competent about the future," Holcomb told Culver students, staff and community leaders. "A point like today is exactly what we were hopeful for, but also envisioned and gained a lot of confidence along the way because of local health departments' engagement."

He referred to the program's coordinators as trailblazers for leading the way and inspiring others. 

"You're proving you're on the right path," he said, referring to the decline in youth smoking rates. "But, my question is, 'How low can it go?' You all, with the resources and with this commitment, are going to take us even lower, and that's a good place to be."

He went on to convey that health is wealth, and although education can lead to success, one has to have their foundational health and well-being box checked as well. 

"To have a fourth grade class championing being vape-free, there's nothing cooler than that," Holcomb said. "We just wanted to make sure that we shined a light on all the good that was occurring in Culver, and in other places around the state we'll be able to share this."

He added that moving the needle on smoking rates is a long-term investment. 

"It's taken us awhile to get to the ranking we're at, but we're going to start to see the needle move as more and more young folks never take up a bad habit," he said. 

Holcomb's visit on the topic was especially timely, as the Supreme Court on Monday probed whether the Food and Drug Administration unlawfully refused to approve flavored e-cigarettes over public health concerns. 

"I just hope, in fact I pray, that we don't make it easier or more enticing for young folks to pick up bad habits that could ultimately determine a bad outcome for their health and well-being," he said in response. 

Gov. Eric Holcomb presents Culver Elementary School fourth grader Kynedi Ogle a T-shirt with her winning design. At left, cheering her on, are Marshall County Health Department Administrator Sandy Dunfee, Youth Coordinator for Marshall County Jalysa Gibson and Marshall County Tobacco Education Coordinator Annette Haining.

Holcomb and Ogle with her T-shirt design on display.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver, at left, speaks to fourth graders at Culver Elementary School alongside student interpreter Ally Roskos-Neilson. 

Holcomb speaks with Ogle and her mother, Beth Kneifel, after a photo with the class.