BOSTON – Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) recognized Rijul Gupta from the Floral Street School and Shalini Biju from Sherwood Middle School in Shrewsbury, and Peyton Knott, a student at Leicester Memorial School, for their prize-winning entries in the Massachusetts Medical Society's Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest. Their entries were three of only twelve posters selected from over 4,200 submissions.
“Congratulations to Rijul and Shalini on this accomplishment,” said Sen. Moore. “Spreading the word at an early age about the harms of tobacco has a tremendous impact on future choices about smoking. I applaud the Massachusetts Medical Society, local educators and physicians in helping make this opportunity possible.”
Senator Michael O. Moore with Shalini Biju and the Biju family and Dr. James Gessner (far right), President of the Massachusetts Medical Society at the Massachusetts State House.
Finalist selections were based on the originality and artistic value of the posters, and the strength of the anti-tobacco message. The program is available to Massachusetts students in grades one through six and is intended to reinforce the positive health effects of refraining from tobacco use.
Earlier this year, the State Senate passed an omnibus bill that seeks to reduce tobacco use and nicotine addiction. Among other provisions, the legislation will prohibit the sale of all tobacco and nicotine delivery products to individuals under the age of 21. To learn more information about this legislation, which is currently under consideration by the House of Representatives, please click HERE.
Senator Michael O. Moore with Rijul Gupta (center) and the Gupta family at the Massachusetts State House.