Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy honors advocates who help create smoke-free communities

The Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy and the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Program honored advocates who are leading the way to enact smoke- and tobacco-free policies that advance healthy environments for Kentuckians. The honors were announced at the 2025 Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference held April 3 in Lexington.

“Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., and now there is a whole new generation of young people addicted to tobacco and nicotine. Kentucky has long been synonymous with tobacco, but its legacy should not be one of addiction and health risks,” Amanda Bucher, Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy program director at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing, said in a news release.

She added, “Access to tobacco treatment, smoke-free workplaces and public places, and media campaigns highlighting tobacco industry tactics to addict kids and opportunities for treatment are some of the best ways to address the burden of tobacco and nicotine addiction in Kentucky. We commend health educators, advocates and policymakers working to protect the well-being of our communities.”

This year’s awards include: 

• OneNKY Alliance received the Lee T. Todd Jr. Smoke-free Hero Award for courage, leadership, perseverance and continuous commitment to smoke- and tobacco-free environments in the face of adversity.

• Griffin Nemeth, UK #iCANendthetrend, received the Smoke-free Youth Advocate Award for excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and smoke-free policy.

• River Valley Behavioral Health, Owensboro, received the Tobacco Free Campus Award for its exceptional leadership and collaborative efforts in promoting healthy campus environments by implementing a 100% tobacco-free campus policy.

• Audrey Darville, PhD., UK College of Nursing, received the Ellen J. Hahn Lifetime Achievement in Tobacco Control Award for an exceptional life devoted to leadership in advocacy and public service contributions in tobacco control.

• Jennifer Redmond Knight, DrPH, UK College of Public Health, UK Markey Cancer Center, received the Timothy W. Mullett, M.D., Lung Cancer Prevention Award for her leadership, devotion and passion toward preventing lung cancer through policy change in tobacco control.

• Becky Tanner, McLean County High School, received the David B. Stevens M.D. Smoke-free Advocate of the Year Award for excellence in promoting secondhand smoke education and smoke-free policy.

The event was also sponsored by the Kentucky Health Collaborative, Kentucky Asthma Management Program, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers, Kentucky COPD Program, Kentucky Lung Cancer Screening Program and Kentucky Voices for Health.