An Update on EPA’s SunWise Program 

SunWise Champion

When it comes to skin cancer prevention advocates, they don’t come more passionate than 

Robin Lawrence-Broesch of the 

Evansville Cancer 

Center in 

Evansville, 

Indiana. Robin 

has been a vocal 

supporter of sun 

protection and 

skin cancer education since being 

diagnosed with 

malignant 

Robin melanoma in 

Lawrence-Broesch 2002. “My goals 

are to reach out 

into the school system and the public 

and teach the dangers of skin cancer,” 

says Robin. 

Because of Robin’s dedication to skin 

cancer prevention and education awareness, EPA is naming her SunWise 

Champion for this issue of the 

SunWise Monitor. 

Robin’s skin cancer education efforts are 

truly impressive. She has supported the 

following activities: 

• Conducted more than 50 presentations to over 10,000 grade school, 

middle school, high school, and university students. 

• Performed several in-services with 

area industries where she presented 

information on skin cancer to their 

entire workforce. 

• Attended several health fairs. 

• Currently working with the Girl 

Scouts, teaching sun safety by having 

the scouts make UV bracelets. 

Robin’s outreach has also focused on the 

health aspects of skin cancer prevention 

through the following efforts: 

• Organized three free full-body 

skin cancer screenings with area 

dermatologists. 

• Had several television stations cover 

her efforts in schools and the community as part of skin cancer awareness 

month. HIGHLIGHTS 

SunWise Award Winners ....................2 

SunWise Targets Informal 

Learning Institutions ..........................3 

SunWise Receives 

Gold Triangle Award..........................3 

Global UV Index ................................4 

SunWise PSAs....................................5 

SHADE Foundation’s Teen Program ....6 

Sun Protection Foundation ..................7 

• Teamed up with pharmaceutical 

companies that have supplied educational materials and sunscreen for distribution at the Center. 

• Conducted “Pool Patrol” over the 

summer, going to different swimming 

pools each week with a local radio station to distribute sunscreen and 

demonstrate the UV sensitive frisbee. 

In addition to being diagnosed with 

melanoma in 2002, Robin has had 16 

other biopsies and surgeries for skin 

cancer. Fortunately, all incidences were 

detected early and had not spread to her 

lymph nodes or other organs. Robin 

says, “Because of early detection, I am 

very lucky to be alive, and I want to do 

everything possible to help others 

understand the fragility of life and the 

importance of protecting themselves 

from skin cancer.” 

Keep up the good work, Robin! 

SunWise Hits 10,000 School Milestone

n 2004, the SunWise Program reached a major milestone, with more than 

10,000 school registrations nationwide—covering all 50 states, the District of 

Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Having begun just five years ago in 1999 as a pilot 

program in only 50 schools, this is an incredible achievement. The SunWise 

Program thanks the SunWise Partners who have made this possible! 

I
2 SunWise Monitor 

SunWise Bestows Annual Shining Star

and Helios Awards

Shining Star Award

The Shining Star Award recognizes 

SunWise Partners that are enthusiastically implementing the 

SunWise Program and/or have shown a 

lasting commitment to sun safety education. The 2004 winners are: 

• Diane Trantham, Center for 

Creative Learning, Ellisville, 

Missouri, has used SunWise in her 

classroom for several years and integrated activities into her own “There’s 

No Zone Like the Ozone” lesson plan. 

• Daniel Chuhta, Massabesic Junior 

High School, Waterboro, Maine, 

consistently collects and reports UV 

data with his classes. 

• Colette Coyne, Colette Coyne 

Melanoma Awareness Campaign 

(CCMAC), New Hyde Park, New 

York, diligently promoted sun safety 

attitudes, especially among the 

nation’s youth. 

• Karen Green, The Swain School, 

Allentown, Pennsylvania, used the 

SunWise Program in innovative ways; 

collects and reports UV data; created 

“Are You SunWise at Swain” test; and 

throws a SunWise Beach Party, distributing sun safety information to parents. 

• Carlos Olivo, Holy Cross 

Lutheran School, Dallas, 

the UV Index and travels to local 

schools to promote sun safety. 

• Doug Widner, Peggy Notebaert 

Nature Center, Chicago, Illinois, 

incorporated SunWise into teacher 

training workshops, festivals for scout 

groups, and their Voyagers After 

School Program. 

Helios Award

The Helios Leadership Award is 

awarded to SunWise Partners that 

meet all of the eligibility criteria 

for the Shining Star Award and have 

also shown outstanding leadership in 

school-based sun safety education. 

Leadership can be demonstrated by 

instituting a policy to address sun safety 

that can serve as a model to other 

schools/districts, erecting a shade structure, or addressing the issue of sun safety in a way that sets them apart from 

the Shining Star award recipients. The 

2004 winners are: 

• Shonda Schilling, The SHADE 

Foundation of America, worked with 

SunWise to spread the message of sun 

safety to schools across Arizona, and 

now Massachusetts. Schilling assisted 

in providing information on sun-safe 

practices and helped obtain shade 

structures for school playgrounds. 

• Sharon McKenna, Arizona 

Texas, set up a UV and Department of Health

ozone alert bulletin Services (ADHS),

board to collect data; Children’s Environmental

Health Program, vigorousthe school newsletter; 

provides UV updates in 

ly promoted the SunWise 

and organized the school’s message to Arizona


first Environmental Fair. 
 schools, including sponsor-

• Paul Gross, ing a poster contest to help 

engage Arizona students in Meteorologist, WDIV- the SunWise way of life. Also TV, Detroit, Michigan, helped EPA place radio pub- used the SunWise fris- lic service announce- bee and UV meter in ments in Bashas grocery a TV spot featuring stores in Arizona. SunWise

Award

Application

Process

SunWise Partners interested in 

applying for the 2005 Shining Star 

or Helios Awards should submit a 

description (200 words or less) of 

how you implemented the SunWise 

program, along with documentation of eligibility, such as lesson 

plans, student samples, photos, or 

news clips about your SunWise 

work to: 

SunWise Program 

U.S. EPA 

1101 17th Street, NW 

Suite 1200 

Washington, DC 20036 

Contact: Paula Selzer 

Phone: (202) 343-9361 

Fax: (202) 466-3363 

email: sunwise@epa.gov 

Information about eligibility criteria 

can be found at <www.epa.gov/ 

sunwise/recognition.html>. 

The application deadline is 

March 31, 2005. 

• Bethann (and Emily) Nelson, Bonita 

Springs Elementary School, Bonita 

Springs, Florida, worked with the 

school’s PTA to fundraise for a shade 

structure for the playground. Her 

daughter, Emily, assisted in promoting 

the shade structure and works with 

other groups promoting sun safety. 

More information on all of the award 

winners can be found at 

<www.epa.gov/sunwise/recipients.html>. 
SunWise Monitor 3

SunWise Targets Informal

Learning Institutions

T

he SunWise Program is continuing Through programs such as summer 

to expand by teaming up with the camps, planetarium shows, children’s 

informal education community. theater, and special events, kids can 

Children’s museums, science and nature learn about the importance of sun safe 

centers, parks, and aquariums are behaviors, with an emphasis on science. 

beginning to incorporate sun safety Adults involved with after-school clubs, 

messages into their programming. health fairs, teacher training workshops, 

Within the last two years, approximate- nature centers, and community events 

ly 100 of these organizations have regis- can also integrate SunWise into their 

tered as SunWise partners. educational programs. 

To help inform 

these organizations about the 

SunWise program, EPA partnered with the 

American 

Association for 

the Advancement 

of Science 

(AAAS) to host 

regional recruiting workshops. 

Three workshops 

were held in the 

spring of 2004 

in Chicago, 

Above and above right: EPA’s new brochure promoting the learning 

institutions initiative. 

Los Angeles, and 

Tampa. Three 

more are planned 

for the spring of 

2005 in Dallas, 

and two additional cities (one in 

the Pacific 

Northwest and 

one in the South, 

still to be determined). In 

September, AAAS 

hosted a 

“SunWise Breakfast” at the annual 

Association of Science-Technology 

Centers (ASTC) conference in San Jose, 

California, to recruit more of the informal learning institutions. 

For more information on how your 

neighborhood children’s museum or science center can become a SunWise 

partner, contact Paula Selzer at 

<sunwise@epa.gov>. 

I

n July 2004, the SunWise Program received the American 

Academy of Dermatology’s Gold Triangle Award. The 

Gold Triangle Award recognizes media, industry, the 

health community, and 

individuals who further 

the understanding of 

dermatological issues 

and encourage healthy 

behavior in the care of 

skin, hair, and nails. 

The eighth annual 

awards ceremony, held 

in New York City, 

included greetings and 

congratulations to the honorees from 

President Bush and was emceed by 

actors Anthony Ruivivar and Yvonne 

Jung of NBC’s “Third Watch.” Of particular note was the acknowledgement 

made of the SunWise Program by fellow recipients, including the Colette 

Coyne Melanoma Awareness 

Campaign, the Curt and Shonda Schilling SHADE 

Foundation, and Dr. Ann Haas’ Sun Safe City Program. 

Each of the organizations recognized the SunWise Program’s 

success in incorporating sun safety lessons into multiple 

learning forums. 

SunWise Receives Gold Triangle Award

Linda Rutsch of EPA receives the 

Gold Triangle award on behalf of 

the SunWise Program. 
4 SunWise Monitor 

UV Index Goes Global

Many people are familiar with the 

UV Index, but did you know 

that it recently underwent a 

facelift? On May 26, 2004, EPA, in partnership with the National Weather 

Service, began using a new version of 

the UV Index—the “Global Solar UV 

Index.” 

The new Global UV Index incorporates 

recommendations made in 2002 by a 

coalition of international organizations, 

including the World Health 

Organization. These groups jointly recommended that member nations adopt 

a uniform approach to reporting daily 

UV levels in order to present consistent 

messaging and standardized images and 

language to the public regarding UV 

forecasts. The United States and Canada 

were two of the first nations to adopt 

the recommendations. 

The U.S. government has provided a 

UV Index forecast since 1994. There is 

a great deal of variation, however, in 

how private weather providers incorporate the information into their forecasts, 

if they incorporate it at all. For example, instead of reporting the UV Index 

forecast, some providers report a “minutes to burn” estimate that suggests the 

amount of time in the sun until a person will get a sunburn. 

EPA’s purpose in adopting and announcing the Global Solar UV Index is to promote standardization of reporting within 

the United States, as well as to increase 

recognition and understanding of the 

UV Index by the general public. The 

Global Solar UV Index differs from the 

previous index in a few key respects, 

but the way in which the index number 

is calculated has not changed. 

The National Weather Service provides 

a UV Index forecast for 58 U.S. cities, 

New Global Solar UV Index 

UV Index Number Exposure Level 

2 or less Low 

3 to 5 Moderate 

6 to 7 High 

8 to 10 Very High 

11+ Extreme 

and EPA allows Internet users to check 

UV forecasts by ZIP code from its Web 

site, <www.epa.gov/sunwise/ 

uvindex.html>. EPA has several information products about the new UV 

Index that were designed for health, 

media, and weather professionals. Some 

of these products are downloadable 

from the SunWise Web site’s publications page at <www.epa.gov/sunwise/ 

publications.html>. For printed copies, 

please contact EPA’s National Service 

Center for Environmental Publications 

at (800) 490-9198, or e-mail 

<sunwise@epa.gov>. 

It’s Never Too Late to Be SunWise

S

ince 1986, people have been told that they receive as 

much as 80 percent of their lifetime UV dose by the 

age of 18. A recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) study, lead by Dianne E. Godar, Ph.D., concluded 

that Americans get less than 25 percent of their lifetime UV 

exposure by age 18. The FDA study explained that the 80 

percent figure was based largely on a misinterpretation of 

data, due to an analysis that regular use of SPF 15+ sunscreen during the first 18 years of life would reduce a person’s lifetime incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers by 

78 percent. Some people, assuming a direct link, misconstrued these data to mean that individuals also get about 

80 percent of their lifetime dose of UV by the age of 18. In 

reality, however, the calculations were based on the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers being related to the 

square of the UV dose. It is not uncommon to miss the 

subtle distinction between dose and dose squared, and 

once that occurred, the notion of 80 percent UV exposure 

before the age of 18 became the resonating message in the 

sun safety community. 

While SunWise education of youth continues to be of 

utmost importance, the conclusion of the FDA study reiterates the need to practice sun-safe behaviors throughout the 

course of one’s lifetime, rather than focusing solely on preventative steps taken during childhood. People of all ages 

should protect themselves from being overexposed to UV 

radiation. It’s never too late to prevent skin cancer! 
SunWise Monitor 5

SunWise Scores with “Make Sun Safety

Your Goal!” Campaign

With the help of the D.C. United soccer team, SunWise 

placed public service announcements (PSAs)—with 

steps on how to be sun-safe—in Washington, DC’s 

public transit system in the early sum-


mer months of 2004. The “Make


Sun Safety Your Goal” campaign


has been a great success in both


the Metro subway stations and on


the side of Metro buses. Chicago’s


“L” subway system also posted


PSAs featuring messaging by the 

Chicago Fire soccer team. The next 

proposed location for PSA placement is 

Los Angeles, with potential distribution by early next year. 

EPA is grateful for the assistance of the American Academy of 

Dermatology and the U.S. Soccer Foundation for the development of the “Make Sun Safety Your Goal” PSAs. Also, be sure to 

stay tuned for additional SunWise PSAs in a variety of grocery 

stores and on AM and FM radio stations. Word has it that some 

Bashas grocery stores in Phoenix, Arizona, are playing SunWise 

PSAs as part of a children’s health education initiative! 

Protecting Your Eyes from Sun Damage

Most people are aware of the link between UV radiation and skin cancer, but 

many are less aware of the connection between UV radiation and eye damage. A new EPA publication entitled Prevent Eye Damage: Protect Yourself 

from UV Radiation sheds light on this issue and encourages people to take the necessary precautions to protect their eyes from being damaged. The fact sheet 

includes information on the potential effects of UV radiation on eyes, such as 

cataracts; statistics on eye and vision disorders in the United States; and a frequently asked questions 

section. 

You can view the fact 

sheet online at 

<www.epa.gov/ 

sunwise/ 

publications.html>. 
I

6 SunWise Monitor 

SHADE Foundation Sets Up Teen Program

T

he deep 4-inch scar just below Jacky Sims’ neck is a 

reminder of a lesson she learned the hard way: kids get 

skin cancer, too. It has been a year since the 16-year-old 

Arizona native was diagnosed with the disease, after a routine 

exam identified a discolored mole on her chest, which was 

removed and then tested. 

reports. “Even if you don’t get skin 

cancer, you’ll be all wrinkly.” 

Jacky contacted the SHADE 

Foundation earlier this year 

because she wanted to help get 

the message out to other teens. 

She and two friends have created a teen program, including 

a teen discussion board where 

teenagers can share information and get support. In addition, 

parents and teachers can access the “Tanning Through the 

Ages” program, which can be downloaded and taught at 

home and in schools. For more information, visit 

<www.shadefoundation.org> and click on Teens! 

In other SHADE Foundation news, due to the smashing success of the 2004 sun safety poster contest sponsored by the 

SHADE Foundation, the organization will be repeating the 

contest in 2005 and expanding it to additional states. Please 

visit the SHADE Foundation Web site listed above for more 

information and to determine if your school will be eligible to 

participate. Jacky Sims 

“I didn’t even know what 

‘malignant melanoma’ 

meant,” said Jacky, who told 

her story in the June issue of 

YM magazine. She urges 

teens everywhere to protect 

themselves from the sun’s 

rays, but especially in 

Arizona, where she says tanning is frequently considered 

“cool” and easy—and a place 

the Arizona Cancer Center 

reports is second only to 

Australia for skin cancer. 

Tanning beds are a “huge 

thing at my school,” Jacky 

National Science Teachers

Association Highlights SunWise

n the July 2004 issue of Science and behaviors; and implementing a sun- Sunwise was 

Children, the National Science safe school policy are ways that schools also recently 

Teachers Association (NSTA) high- can help protect children from sun featured in 

lighted EPA’s SunWise program in an overexposure and lay the foundation the October 2004 National Institutes 

article called “Get SunWise.” for a healthy lifestyle at an early age. of Health publication Environmental 

The article pointed out that teaching In the article, NSTA adds that successful Health Perspectives, in the article entiscience and providing health and safety strategies—including classroom activi- tled “Setting a New Syllabus.... 

Environmental Health Science in the often go hand-in-hand. The article con- ties and schoolwide guidance—are 

tinued by stating that providing sun- easily available to schools and teachers Classroom.” The article highlighted 

safe environments, schedules, and activ- through the SunWise program. SunWise for its ability to integrate sun 

ities; teaching and modeling sun-safe safety into education for primary and 

secondary students. 
SunWise Monitor 7

Sun Protection Foundation Spreads

SunWise Message

Working with 16 local schools, the 

Sun Protection Foundation—a 

nonprofit educational organization based in Boston—presented its sun 

safety awareness program to more than 

8,000 pre-kindergarten to 12th grade 

students in 2003. Founder Maryellen 

Maguire-Eisen calls the Foundation’s 

program ‘The Real World Sun 

Protection Program’ because it recognizes the real-world academic and social 

demands under which schools operate. 

Maguire-Eisen decided to ask the 

schools to partner with the Foundation 

so that they could deliver the sun safety 

message together. 

One of the key elements of the program 

is the Foundation’s partnership with 

EPA’s SunWise Program. This relationship provides the Real World Sun 

Protection Program with a number of 

valuable tools for the classroom, including UV meters, lesson plans, an educational Web site, and relevant weather 

maps. Students in nine participating 

schools have used the UV meters to 

detect and report the daily UV intensity. 

Mary Stagno, health educator at Cedar 

Elementary School in Hanover, 

Massachusetts, notes, “The sun safety 

program is extremely well designed, 

and the implementation is excellent.” 

Additionally, Beverly DiGregorio, the 

school nurse at the Jefferson School in 

Rockland, Massachusetts, has requested 

that the Foundation provide the program at four additional schools in 

Rockland this year. 

For more information on the Sun 

Protection Foundation, please visit 

<www.sunprotectionfoundation.org/>. 

A SunWise student reports the UV Index. 

With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, 

Arizona is certainly no stranger to the sun. This past 

summer, the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation 

Department capitalized on this fact and decided to spread 

the SunWise message during the annual Arizona Parks and 

Recreation Association Statewide Conference. Facing 113-

degree weather, the organization coordinated “Kids Day of 

PLAY!,” which included several 

SunWise components for the 

144 youth who participated. 

Since the event was held outside, one company provided a 

large shade structure while another company kept it misted with water so the participants stayed cool. The SHADE 

Foundation provided informational materials, hats, and 

sunscreen to all participants. Throughout the day, the city 

of Phoenix staff checked to make sure the participants 

used their sunscreen and stayed protected. 

Prior to this event, the city had already begun teaching 

SunWise to park rangers, and after school recreation staff 

have been incorporating SunWise in their programs. “This 

event was an important step in spreading the message to a 

larger audience and sharing it with the state of Arizona,” 

said Lisa Quinonez, recreation coordinator for the City of 

Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to 

the SunWise message, Kids Day at PLAY! emphasized 

healthy behavior in general. Among other activities, the 

Arizona Coalition for a Healthy and Active America handed out pedometers to participants, and the Phoenix Fire 

Department sponsored their “Fire Fit Kids” program. 

SunWise in Action: Kids Day of PLAY!
8 SunWise Monitor 

SunWise on the Road in 2005

• March 29–April 1, 2005: National Catholic Education 

Association (NCEA), Philadelphia, PA 

• April 2–4, 2005: Association for Supervision and 

Curriculum Development (ASCD), Orlando, FL 

• April 16–19, 2005: National Association of Elementary 

School Principals (NAESP), Baltimore, MD 

• April 28–30, 2005: Association of Children’s Museums 

(ACM) Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN 

• June 30–July 3, 2005: National Association of School 

Nurses (NASN), Washington, DC 

• July 7–10, 2005: American Federation of Teachers (AFT) 

QuEST, Washington, DC 

• October 20–22, 2005: National Council of Teachers of 

Mathematics (NCTM) Regional, Birmingham, AL 

• October 27–29, 2005: Conference for the Advancement 

of Science Teaching (CAST), Houston, TX 

• November 10–12, 2005, National Science Teachers 

Association (NSTA) Midwest Regional, Chicago, IL 

• December 1–3, 2005, National Science Teachers 

Association (NSTA) Southern Regional, Nashville, TN 

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