COD Student E'Laina Craven Wins Tobacco-Free Naming Contest

College of DuPage student E'laina Craven's slogan for the College's tobacco-free information campaign won first prize and earned the Oak Park/Roselle resident a new Kindle Fire and a free fall 2012 premium parking pass.

“I know the Kindle is more valuable, but I think I was more excited about the parking pass,” said Craven, 23, who is enrolled in the Teacher Preparation program and plans to teach elementary education after earning a degree at University of Illinois at Chicago. “I really never thought I had a chance at winning this competition, but am very glad I did!”

Craven's slogan, “Chaparral Country is Tobacco-Free” will be featured in an information campaign at the College to spread the word about the Tobacco-Free Policy that goes into effect Monday, Aug. 6, two weeks before the start of fall term. The College's Board of Trustees approved the new policy during its April 19 regular meeting.

“I selected ‘Chaparral Country' because I wanted a phrase that was catchy and easy to remember that also included a reference to the school,” Craven said.

In terms of the new Tobacco-Free Policy, Craven said she is “very happy” about the College's decision to become a smoke- and tobacco-free campus.

“It will be nice to come in and out of buildings without walking through secondhand smoke anymore,” she said. “I also think this new policy promotes general wellness amongst students and it's a very ‘green' move to make. It's good to know that COD is making efforts to keep our campus, as well as the environment, clean.”

For more information about the Tobacco-Free Policy at College of DuPage, visit www.cod.edu/tobaccofree.