Mandi Barker had never worked in a medical office before. But the Lowell, North Carolina teenager was excited about the opportunity to work in the College’s health center as a workstudy. What started out as a job that included everything from filing to data collection, eventually became passion for health education.

“Mandi is a very quiet and reliable person,” says Claudina Ghianni, director of health services at Belmont Abbey College. “It wasn’t until the need came up for an updated brochure on smoking that we realized how talented she truly is. By working on its design and message, Mandi became very dedicated to the project and to health education as a whole. It’s become a bit of a calling for her and we certainly appreciate her efforts.”

The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout® first began nationwide in 1977. According to the organization, research shows smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have some means of support, such as nicotine replacement products, counseling, prescription medicine to lessen cravings, guide books, and the encouragement of friends and family members.

Ghianni says the key to quitting is taking each day, one at a time.

“If a student or adult can stop smoking for just 24 hours and survive, the next step is 36 hours, and then why not 48 hours? Many students feel that they may gain weight if they suddenly stop smoking and it’s up to us to let them know that that fact is just not true,” says Ghianni.

Today, an estimated 46 million US adults smoke. Tobacco use can cause lung cancer, as well as other cancers, lung disease, and respiratory disease. Smoking is responsible for one in three cancer deaths and one in five deaths from all causes. As many as 8.6 million people are now living with a serious illness caused by smoking, according to the American Cancer Society.

Belmont Abbey College, named one of the country’s leading, private liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, is located in Belmont, North Carolina, 15 miles west of Charlotte. The campus consists of the College, the Monastery and the Abbey Basilica, which can be found on its sprawling 650 acres of picturesque landscape. Nearly a thousand students call The Abbey home. The students, with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, represent more than 18 countries and 34 states and pursue undergraduate degrees in a number of liberal arts course offerings.

Founded in 1876, the College celebrates its heritage and is inspired by the Benedictine monastic tradition. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the College and Abbey Basilica greet thousands of visitors each year.