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Mannheim students win 5,000 euros in the non-smoking competition!
Wendlingen am Neckar will be honored as the winner in the “Be Smart – Don’t Start” competition on July 3, 2025. Health ministers emphasize prevention.
Mannheim students win 5,000 euros in the non-smoking competition!
Baden-Württemberg was named the winner of the renowned “Be Smart – Don’t Start” competition. Class 8a of the Zwilling-Scholl-Realschule in Mannheim received an impressive 5,000 euros from the German Cancer Aid as the main prize for their successful participation. The competition, whose motto is “100% Smart!” The goal is to motivate students to be smoke-free for six months.
A total of 893 school classes from Baden-Württemberg took part in this 28th edition of the competition, which took place from November 11th, 2024 to April 25th, 2025. During the prize draw on July 3rd at the Stuttgart International Youth Hostel, 707 school classes, which corresponds to around 80 percent, proved successful by completing the competition without consuming tobacco. These initiatives are supported by various institutions, including the Federal Institute for Public Health and the German Cancer Aid Foundation.
Additional creative competition
In addition to the main competition, a creative competition was also held in Baden-Württemberg, in which over 40 entries were submitted. This part of the competition creatively addressed the dangers of tobacco use. The students presented their work through sculptural artwork, podcasts, self-written songs and supermarket surveys.
The ten winning projects each received 400 euros. The responsible teachers and students showed great creative commitment, with many of the topics addressing newer developments such as e-cigarettes and vapes.
The winners of the creative competition
The winning classes of the creative competition are listed here:
| Class | School |
|---|---|
| 8a | St. Georgen secondary school, Sankt Georgen |
| 8b | Eduard-Mörike-Gymnasium, Neuenstadt am Kocher |
| 7b and 7c | Schloss-Realschule, Gaildorf |
| 6b | Robert Bosch High School, Wendlingen am Neckar |
| 6a and 6b | Pestalozzi School, Schwäbisch Gmünd |
| 7b | Goethe-Gymnasium, Ludwigsburg |
| 7b | Hebelschule, Titisee-Neustadt |
| 8c | Klettgau-Gymnasium Tiengen, Waldshut-Tiengen |
| 7 | Ludwig Uhland School, Schömberg |
| 7 | Pestalozzi School, Schwäbisch Gmünd |
The high level of participation and commitment of the teachers was particularly appreciated by Health Minister Manne Lucha. Education Minister Theresa Schopper spoke of the long-term benefits of the competition for healthy lifestyle habits. Johannes Bauernfeind from AOK Baden-Württemberg emphasized the importance of prevention in young people. Prof. Dr. Thomas Riecke-Baulecke from the Center for School Health (ZSL) in Baden-Württemberg highlighted the students' potential and sense of responsibility.
For more information about the competition and its goals, visit the official website Be Smart – Don’t Start.