For two periods, students at Beatty Middle School in Buena Park took a welcome break from their school day to form teams of four and face off in the Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program’s 3rd annual esports tournament.
The Super Smash Bros.-themed tournament encouraged teamwork and socialization, while exemplifying a healthy coping strategy for students to turn to instead of tobacco or vape use. Additionally, students had the opportunity to enter a campus-wide poster contest featuring original art and a vaping prevention message.
TUPE aims to educate young students on the dangers of tobacco use and demonstrate how to manage stress while building other skills such as critical thinking, communication and creativity. The program receives a large part of their funding from tobacco tax revenue.
Headed by the Orange County Department of Education, the esports x TUPE program has impacted 895 students and organized both campus-and district-wide tournaments over the past two years. These initiatives not only empower students to make healthier choices for their future, but also build school community.