USU Extension received grant funding from the Southeastern Utah Health Department from 2020-2026 to implement an evidence-based e-cigarette and vape prevention program targeting youth in Southeastern Utah communities. The Be Epic, Escape the Vape Program is a multi-component prevention program offering e-cigarette and vape prevention programming in Carbon, Emery and Grand counties for teachers and school staff, education events for parents/guardians, and afterschool programs for youth in 5th-12th grades.
Program Information
- Carbon
- Emery
- Grand
Josie Hatch
Miyoshi Lee
Maria Jose Velasco
Trophy icon Award icon AWARDS Trophy icon Award icon
2025
1st Place State-Level Winner: Program Excellence through Research Award
Be Epic, Escape the Vape: A Multi-Component & Research-Based Approach to Rural Vape Prevention
from National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (NEAFCS), National
2024
1st Place National Winner: Florence Hall Award & Annual Session Award (Cash Award)
Be Epic, Escape the Vape: A Multi-Component Approach to Rural Vape Prevention
from National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (NEAFCS), National
Distinguished Team Award
Be Epic, Escape the Vape: Extension of E-Cigarette Prevention in Rural Communities
from Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) Western Region, Regional
1st Place Western Region Winner: Florence Hall Award
Be Epic, Escape the Vape: A Multi-Component Approach to Rural Vape Prevention
from National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (NEAFCS), Regional
Rural Education Partner of the Year Award
Utah State University Extension
from Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU)
Best of State Award
for Community Education
Florence Hall Award
from Utah Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (UEAFCS), State
1st Place: Marketing/Public Relations Award
from Utah Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (UEAFCS), State
Specialist Partner Award
from Utah State University Extension Specialist Association, State
Distinguished Team Award
from Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) IOTA Chapter (Utah), State
2023
Best of State Award: Community Education
Cooperator Award
from Utah State University Extension Specialists Association
2nd Place: Excellence in Teamwork Award
from the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (NEAFCS), Regional
1st Place: Innovative Program Team Award
from Utah Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (UEAFCS), State
2022
2nd Place Western Region Winner: Excellence in Teamwork Award
from National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (NEAFCS), Regional
Excellence in Teamwork Award
from National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (NEAFCS), State
1st Place: Diversity Team Award
from Utah Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (UEAFCS), State
2nd Place: Marketing/Public Relations Team Award
from Utah Extension Association of Family & Consumer Science (UEAFCS), State
PUBLICATIONS
Pay, C., Hawks, J., Oman, J., Meier, C., & Yaugher, A. (2021). E-Cigarette and Vape Prevention in Rural Southeast Utah: Outcomes of Teacher Education. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 1(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/744d-04ae
Yaugher, A. C., Pay, C., Hatch, J., & Meier, C. (2024). Assessing Parent and Guardian Outcomes for the Be Epic, Escape the Vape Program in Rural Southeast Utah. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 4(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.59620/2995-2220.1067
Yaugher, A. C., Pay, C. C., Hawks, J., & Meier, C. L. (2023). Evaluating a Multicomponent e-Cigarette Prevention Program in the Rural Northwest: Teacher and Parent/Guardian Program Outcomes. The Journal of school nursing : the official publication of the National Association of School Nurses, 10598405231198020. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405231198020
If you have updates to this page, please contact Kristin Hoch at kristin.hoch@usu.edu.