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Angeleah Craner and Ethan Lindsey don't go to the same school or church or even grocery store, but that doesn't mean they don't have a shared message: smoking can wreck your life. Both Weber County students recently won a statewide contest to create an anti-tobacco ad sponsored by the Utah Department of Health and the TRUTH campaign, an anti-tobacco organization.

More than 7,200 students from Utah submitted ads they created, ranging from radio spots to television commercials and billboards. Each student had a chance that his or her submission could become a real ad.

Designs by Angeleah and Ethan placed second and third among the billboard submissions. Elizabeth Peck, a student from South Summit Elementary School in Francis, Summit County, placed first.

Angeleah, a student at Lomond View Elementary in Pleasant View, and Ethan, who attends Farr West Elementary, both have fathers who have tried to quit smoking. While Angeleah's father was able to quit more than three years ago, Ethan said his dad still smokes an occasional cigar. But even occasional isn't OK with Ethan.

"My dad should quit," he said.

Angeleah remembered the smell of her father's cigarettes and said she always knew how bad the habit was for his health. At times, Angeleah said, she would confront her father about his smoking.

"I saw him smoking, and I didn't like it," Angeleah said. "I wanted him to stop. Now he's going to live a longer life so I can spend time with him."

According to the Utah Department of Health, tobacco companies spend nearly $60 million in Utah seeking new business. A portion of that money targets new generations of smokers.

The TRUTH Campaign's ad contest is a way to reach children before they start smoking, said Utah Department of Health public relations coordinator David Neville. Neville said the contest is a great way to start the discussion with youngsters about how dangerous smoking can be for their health.

Angeleah and Ethan might not see their ads plastered on billboards this year, but each received a small cash prize for their work. Angeleah's billboard looks at first like a game of hangman. Random letters are still waiting to be filled in, but at the bottom she wrote "Smokers Never Win" as the tag.

"I'm really proud of her. I'm impressed," said her mom, Leahmay Craner-Earl.

"I think it's important that kids are shown the reality of what can happen with whatever they choose in life," she added.

Ethan's ad directly addressed children, depicting a youngster in an argument with a cigarette. His tag reads "Doing tobacco is like being controlled by mom again. But it's much, much worse!"

The TRUTH Campaign partnered with the Utah Department of Health in 1991 when it first called on Utah's fourth- and fifth-graders to create ads about tobacco. Now, students say the program that began as a way to get them talking about smoking and living a healthy lifestyle has become a tradition for them. —

TRUTH Campaign winners in varied categories

Best of Show • "The Get-Your-Life-Back Radio Contest," Madi Michaels, Draper

TV

1st place • "Savor Your Moment," Meigon Stuy, Lehi

2nd place • "Smokin' Grandpa," Mikyla May Bagley and Bryce Damon Christensen, Greenwich and Koosharem

3rd Place • "The Workmen and the Cigarette," Katherine McKinney, West Jordan

Radio

1st Place • "Smoking Is Bad," Hayden Underwood, West Jordan

2nd Place • "How Tobacco Can Affect Your Family," Rylee Bunten, South Jordan

3rd Place • "The Friend That Helped," Kelly Faber, West Jordan

Billboard

1st Place • "Is Tobacco Your BFF?" Elizabeth "Libbie" Peck, Francis

2nd Place • "Smokers Never Win," Angeleah Craner, Pleasant View

3rd Place • "Quit Tobacco," Ethan Lindsey, Farr West