December 22, 2008 — A University of Virginia project aimed at reducing student drinking, which focuses on the annual spring Foxfield Races, has won a bronze award for excellence in the category of health, wellness and counseling from the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

Ellen Bass, an associate professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Susan Bruce, director of the Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse, have worked for two years with a student-initiated study to identify effective interventions to keep students from binge drinking.

"Every student had a story or experience regarding drinking and Foxfield," Bass said. "They really wanted to see what interventions would work best."

Dean of Students Allen Groves nominated the project.