Mason Awarded Major Grant
To Combat Risk Factors

By Christie Ankeney (May 26, 2006)

Sports Illustrated Magazine and the Oregon Health and Science University has announced that George Mason is among four high schools in Virginia to receive a grant equivalent to $30,000 to start a drug and steroid prevention program in their schools. The other schools are John Marshall High School in Richmond, Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, and Marion Senior High School in Smyth County.

The grant was awarded to schools so that they can initiate the ATLAS and ATHENA programs. The ATLAS (Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids) program for male students is used to educate students about anabolic steroids, alcohol and other illegal drugs.  Since 1993 the ATLAS program has been “shown to reduce risk factors and use of anabolic steroids, alcohol and other illicit drugs while promoting healthy nutrition and exercise behaviors” according to the press release from Sports Illustrated.

The ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives) program, which is for female students, has been in existence since 1997. It promotes healthy nutrition along with exercise training as an alternative to drug use and eating disorders.

Athletic director Mr. Tom Horn applied for this grant after finding out about it through the Virginia High School League (VHSL), which advertised the selection process to all Virginia public schools. By being chosen for this grant Mason has an opportunity to inaugurate two programs that it would not otherwise be able to implement. George Mason is one of four charter schools to run these programs in their schools. Being selected for this grant is a very big honor for George Mason. “It’s a very big deal, this is another service that we can provide to our athletes that other schools don’t have yet,” Horn told Lasso Online.

The grant is only for one year, after that it is the school’s responsibility to keep the programs going. “Hopefully it will be a lasting program. Our goal is to continue to provide education to our students,” said Horn.