LAKELAND, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2008) — The Florida Southern College Nursing Program and Student Life and Cultural Center were each awarded $12,000 grants from the Central Florida Area Health Education Center (CFAHEC). The organization is part of the Florida Area Health Education Centers Network (AHEC), an extensive statewide system for health professional education and support.

The grant monies derive from Florida’s tobacco settlement of 1997 and are being administered through AHEC to develop and operate programs that address issues related to tobacco education, prevention, and cessation. Specifically, the funds are for students who complete the Tobacco Education Curriculum to educate middle schools students in Polk County about the dangers of tobacco use, and to improve the knowledge level of tobacco-related issues for students in nursing and health professions. The Tobacco Education Curriculum will be incorporated into the new 4-year BSN program and the students will then deliver the education to the middle schools as a community service project next semester. The Student Life and Cultural Center will use the funds to work with the Healthy Campus Coalition, comprised of work study students and volunteers who will also receive the education and engage in community service this semester and next.

“I am delighted with the support that CFAHEC has provided for our students and the tremendous opportunity to make a consequential impact on the present and future health of our community,” said Dr. Mavra Kear, chair of FSC’s nursing program and health sciences division.