The BACCHUS Network™

The Hall of Peer Education is intended to honor outstanding student leaders, advisors, and volunteers for exemplary contributions to peer education, the prevention field, and/or the greater community. The Hall of Peer Education will contain the “Best of the Best” who have been a part of our network through the years. Any former student leader, advisor or network volunteer can be nominated. A lifetime induction fee of $75.00 must accompany the nomination. The inductee will receive membership in The Alumni and Friends Program, their biography and photo (if provided) displayed online from the website, a congratulatory letter from the National Office, and a commemorative logo lapel pin. We hope you will consider nominating someone you know who made a difference in the lives of others. All proceeds from The Hall of Peer Education go toward The BACCHUS Network. To nominate someone, click here to learn more.

Hall of Peer Education Former Awards Recipients

While Amy is knowledgeable on many health subjects, her expertise on the SWATeam has been in sexual health programming. During freshmen orientation, the SWATeam does a large scale program on sexual health and alcohol information in front of 2,000 first-year students. Amy’s leadership among her co-presenters and poise in front of the large crowd demonstrates her abilities as a peer health educator. Amy has also been a key player in planning Take Back the Night, World AIDS Day, Safer Sex Week, Vagina Monologues and Eau Claire’s own “Ask the Sexperts”. Amy has taken sex education straight to the student body in a fun and engaging way. Her work is always done with a smile, and her upbeat and positive attitude has set the tone for the SWATeam for the 3 years she’s worked with us.

Lyndsey has been a peer leader in the Bradley H.E.A.T. and SONOR programs for four years. She was selected for both programs as a freshman and immediately became intensely involved. She has assisted in the H.E.A.T. planning for World AIDS Day, Sexual Responsibility Week, facilitating sexual health workshops, and serving on the Alcohol planning committee. She was a founding member of SONOR and has been an integral part of the planning and implementation for their campus-wide social norms and marketing campaigns.

Adam served two years as a Wellness Education Leader (WELs) and prior to that served a term in Iraq with the military. Through Adam's leadership, the WELs group at North Dakota State University has grown to 35 members strong. Adam helped to create many collaborative relationships across campus including but not limited to: Student Health Service, Sigma Nu Fraternity, Residence Life and the Counseling Center. Adam has been heavily involved with the "Smoke Free SU Week", "Don't Cancel that Class Presentations", 5K run, "Kiss the Blues Away" and "On a Roll Monthly Health Tips". Adam works to promote wellness by increasing awareness of student health issues and encouraging positive lifestyle choices.

The award for Outstanding New Alumnus went to Ann Goding. She was a leader in her peer education group at Hastings college. She is described as “an advisor’s dream…she is self-motivated, intelligent, dedicated, reliable and through.” Ann was also widely recognized as a leader on her campus as she was recognized in campus’ Who’s Who at graduation. Throughout her time as a peer educator, Ann chaired events that always surpassed their goals. During her junior year, she traveled to Uganda and witnessed the AIDS epidemic first hand. The immense suffering she witnessed motivated her to initiate and organize a dinner and silent auction fundraising event in hopes to raise funds for prevention efforts in Uganda. The event raised $3,000 – three times the goal for the event. Ann is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health and interning at the CDC. Ultimately, she would like to earn a PhD and teach epidemiology and/or life sciences at a college or university.

Julie (Weissbuch) Knost from Bradley University received the Outstanding Alumnus at the 2006 General Assembly. Julie is described as a very enthusiastic, creative, and dedicated individual. During her four years at her at Bradley University, she was involved with many aspects of wellness including HIV/AIDS education and alcohol awareness. She was the “catalyst in improving [the campus’] programs in many ways.” Her work helped the campus gain its first recognition by the Inter Association Task Force on Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse Issues as one of the top 10 programs in the country for their yearlong work. Her work also prompted the peer education group to attend their first BACCHUS conference in the Spring of 1999. Currently, Julie is working as a tobacco prevention specialist in Arizona and her recommendation stated that “Prevention is not just something [she] ‘does,’ but rather it is something that she is.” Julie is an educator, a leader, and a role model.

Aaron joined BACCHUS during the second semester of his freshman year at Hastings, quickly becoming the go-to volunteer who got things done: chairing Safe Spring Break Week and NCAAW in 2005 and 2006; teaching first year students in Living & Learning; designing a BACCHUS banner to display at all events; and being instrumental in implementing our Alcohol Poisoning Prevention Campaign including a recorded hotline on campus with alcohol poisoning information and related eye-catching posters and magnets. Aaron is selfless in his desire to increase the safety of his fellow students, putting countless hours into the organization with the ability to motivate others in his group to do their best leading to great success for the events he plans.

Michael was a member of the CARE group, performing creatively in the cast of “Drawing the Shades” for 2 years as well a being named Outstanding CARE member in 2005. He was also a member of the Gay/Straight Alliance planning the Day of Silence vigils for 4 years, which won for Outstanding Program at GA 2004. He has continued his involvement with Hastings, remaining active in CARE and Alliance, providing valuable leadership and some advisor duties along with attending all meetings and each group’s volunteer activities. Michael’s sincere dedication to the causes embraced by CARE and Alliance has led him to continue active participation in both groups even though he has graduated. His role modeling has been essential to the inspiration and success of each group.

Jon is a member of WSC Peer Education Network, serving as president for the last 2 years. He is CPE certified and a charter member of the Peer Drama Players Orientation group. Jon initiated the Peer Mentor program that evolved into a Peer Education class for credit on campus as well as bringing the issue of diversity to the forefront of student awareness during freshman experience classes. The student leaders he introduced to peer education through WSC-PEN membership successfully implemented a Safe-Ride program on campus now in its second year. Jon is a person of integrity and “thinks outside the box” with enthusiasm and creativity, following his ideas through to where others can easily take over to completion.

The recipient for the Outstanding New Alumnus Award is a recent graduate from Florida Atlantic University. She is currently in her second year of medical school. As a peer educator she was the president of her sexual health peer group for two years. She spent hours teaching educational programs in classrooms, was active in peer theatre, and presented other health related programs throughout her campus. While on campus, the recipient worked hard to promote GLBT awareness. To quote her former advisor and award nominator, “she has boundless positive energy, enthusiasm, and a zest for life. She laughs freely and is willing to wear wild costumes for skits and programs and demonstrates how educating and learning can be fun. Please join us in congratulating Gia Marotta for being the 2005 Outstanding New Alumnus Award recipient.

The recipient for the Outstanding Alumnus Award is a long time peer educator and a former SAC and Student Trustee and currently a State Coordinator. The recipient was an active peer educator at the University of Central Florida. This person has worked at the Florida Department of Health, the American College Health Association, presented dozens of programs through the years at General Assembly’s, and their state Department of Health. Currently he works at Temple University as the Coordinator of the Temple Health Empowerment Office. He has mentored many students through the years and continues to be a positive advocate and role model for peer education. This year’s recipient was nominated by two separate former student advisees. One of the nominations reads, “He has inspired many of his former peer educators to go on and pursue careers in college health education, even students who were going to school to earn degrees in fields other than public health. He has an amazing way of building up his students, letting them know that they can do whatever they put their minds to. Please join us in congratulating Michael McNeil for being the 2005 Outstanding Alumnus Award Recipient.

Kate Storm was the founder of Skidmore's BACCHUS chapter in 1999. She served as President of the club until the fall of 2001 when she started a mentoring process with the incoming president (prior to her graduation in May 2002). In the absence of a Health Educator on campus (and in conjunction with the Health Educator), she spearheaded many awareness campaigns and other health education initiatives such as Tinkle Times. Kate volunteered the club to serve root beer floats during Fun Day and started the tradition of each Valentine's day, sending ever student on campus a Valentine card with a condom and a piece of candy- two things that the group continues to do to this day. She instilled a sense of community in the group and belief that they really can make a difference. And even when they feel a sense of frustration to keep going until they get the result they want.

Kate is currently working with the AIDS Community Resources in Syracuse, New York as the Director of Substance Abuse Education Services. She is the program director for two grants, one that deals with HIV Education in drug treatment facilities and another that works directly with active substance users to prepare them for treatment while reducing their risk and harm of HIV. Kate has strong beliefs and fights for what she believes in. She is a hard worker and is always looking for new information and creative ways that it can be disseminated. She truly believes that peer education works and she has made that her passion in everything that she does. Kate chooses jobs where she can make a difference and chooses to work in places that she truly believes in.

Dr. Matthew R. Wawrzynski has been involved with The BACCHUS NetworkTM since 1985 when he was an undergraduate student at Canisius College. As an advisor at both Indiana University and at Loyola of Maryland he started the campus BACCHUS affiliates. He became a State Coordinator in 1993 and served in that role until becoming Area Consultant while working at the University of Maryland. While he was still at Maryland he assisted BACCHUS as the conference planner for the 1st National Tobacco Symposium on Young Adults. Since 2000, Matt has served as conference assistant for the General Assembly. During the past two years he has been conducting research on Peer Education.

At present, Matt is an Assistant Professor in the Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education Department at Michigan State University. He is still committed to the BACCHUS ideals and very much involved in the campus community, advising students and working for the betterment of the MSU community. In addition, during the summer he works with a Boy Scout camp. Matt's connection has been very long standing. He frequently talks about how much enjoys working at the camp and seeing the students grow. Matt's devotion to The BACCHUS NetworkTM still going strong after 19 years of being involved.

Joan Masters has run the gamete in terms of her roles with The BACCHUS NetworkTM: from student leader to advisor, Joan has made the promotion of students making healthy choices her life's work. She is currently the statewide coalition leader for the Missouri Partners in Prevention (PIP). Under her leadership, Joan not only tripled the amount of partners in the coalition, but she also created a sister coalition called Partners in Environmental change (PIEC) which unites law enforcement and campus judicial professional from 12 Missouri college campuses. In addition, Joan is also the BACCHUS state coordinator for Missouri and the Regional Coordinator of the Network.

As a student peer educator, Joan was University of Missouri's BACCHUS (PARTY) president for two years. During that time she also served as Student Advisory Committee from Area Five for BACCHUS. Joan also held a term in the organization's highest leadership position for students as a Student Trustee where she led the efforts for the Spot Light Campaign. Joan's advisor and now coworker Kim Dude describes her as "the ultimate peer educator and student leader. She is a great role model, and incredibly hard worker and an inspiration to those she works with...she is the consummate educator. she has carried the flag for BACCHUS since she was a sophomore in college. She has had a tremendous impact on the university of Missouri, the State of Missouri, and on the nations' prevention efforts.”

Bob Ruday has been involved in promoting the mission of BACCHUS in a variety of avenues for over a decade. Over ten years ago he came to the university of Tampa and immediately became involved in supporting UT's prevention efforts, serving as the advisor of the UT BACCHUS affiliate. Bob was named the Dean of Students in 1994 and continued to support the efforts of BACCHUS in his new leadership role by sending student representatives to the area and national BACCHUS meetings and providing generous monetary support of the many programs on his campus. Bob has also become a leader in the prevention and education efforts in the state of Florida as the chairperson of the state wide initiative, Florida Higher Education Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention.

Bob's support of BACCHUS does not end at his campus, though. Bob has served as the Area 9 Coordinator for a number of years and has served as a motivation for affiliates in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Bob has served as the Educational Sessions Chair for General Assembly and served on the General Assembly conference Program committee for five years. In describing Bob, one student said, "He always makes time in his busy day to meet individually with students and give them helpful ideas, and he is a great role model for other professional staff."