With a message of "No Smoking, Lungs in Use," students at Stowe Preparatory Junior High School in St. Louis and Wirth-Parks Middle School in Cahokia, IL were recognized for creative anti-smoking messages from Carole Buck, wife of the late Jack Buck, and the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine as part of an art and essay contest for this November''s "Great American Smokeout."

Stowe Preparatory''s Keenan Robinson and Wirth-Parks'' Aveon Thomas were named first place winners of the Siteman-sponsored art contest "Keep Kids Tobacco Free." Students at each school were asked to design artwork encouraging young people to be smoke-free. The winning artwork is now emblazoned on t-shirts given to the school''s students for the annual "Siteman Smokeout for Life" at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on Thursday, November 16.

Mrs. Buck also was on hand for the 2006 Smokeout at Siteman. She participated in the stop-smoking effort after a lung cancer diagnosis helped play a part in the death of Jack Buck in June 2002 and spoke to the kids about the importance of not starting to smoke.

As part of the nationwide Great American Smokeout, Siteman offered information on the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting, a free pulmonary function test and oxygen saturation screening, information about smoking cessation classes and an "Ask the Doctor" with lung cancer experts.

Buck and Siteman Cancer Center representatives presented Robinson and Thomas with $250 gift certificates to two area malls.

"It''s exciting to know area children are knowledgeable about the dangers of cigarette smoking and interested in helping others ''kick the habit,''" says Timothy Eberlein, MD, Siteman Cancer Center director.

First place winners of the best inspirational essay from each school were also given a $250 gift certificate while the second and third place winners of artwork and essays were awarded $50 gift certificates.