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Society of Prevention Research honors band

July 30, 2012
by Courtney West

The Society of Prevention Research annual awards honors excellence for a wide range of achievements, from major lifetime contributions to the field to early career excellence.

CSU's John Jiminez, far left, and Randy Swaim, center, were honored by the Society of Prevention Research.This year, they also rewarded great music.

Band includes two from CSU

The Mothers of Prevention – a band that includes two talented musicians from Colorado State University - received the Service to Society of Prevention Research award for gracing the stage at the annual Minority Scholarship Dance for the past 10 years.

Randy Swaim, director of the Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research, plays bass and John Jiminez, an IT professional, plays lead guitar in the band.

The band formed among a group of prevention scientists who regularly attend the Society for Prevention Research and also happen to be musically inclined, said Swaim, a senior research scientist at CSU.

The Society for Prevention Research, according to its website, is dedicated to advancing scientific investigation on the etiology and prevention of problems associated with social, physical and mental health, and academic problems and on the translation of that information to promote health and well being.

Mix of rock, soul, contemporary music

Randy Swaim“Our music is a mix, but we play mainly classic rock and soul, with some contemporary stuff as well, such as Maroon Five and Black Crowes,” Swaim said. “We’ve even done some Miles Davis jazz a couple of times. We have a blast doing this and hope to continue in the years to come, even though several of us are old guys.”

The national organization was founded in 1991, and the first meeting was held at Colorado State at the Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research, which is a research center in the Department of Psychology. About 35 people showed up for the first meeting, but that number has grown to about 1,000 annual attendees annually.

At the time that The Mothers of Prevention formed, David Hawkins, president of the society, made it a part of his presidential platform to form a band to play for the annual minority scholarship dance that was held every year, Swaim said.

John JiminezHawkins contacted society members that he knew were musicians or had played in bands over the years, Swaim said.

Scientists from around the country

The Mothers of Prevention includes other prevention scientists from all around the country:

  • David Hawkins, professor, University of Washington: vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
  • Brian Bumbarger, director, EPIS Center, Penn State University: vocals, drums
  • Celene Domitrovich, assistant director, Prevention Research Center, Penn State: vocals
  • Jim Emshoff, emeritus professor, Georgia State University: vocals, keyboard
  • John Graham, professor, Biobehavioral Health and Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State: saxophone
  • Gil Botvin, professor, Psychology, Weill Cornell Medical College: trumpet

Contact: Emily Wilmsen
E-mail: Emily.Wilmsen@colostate.edu
Phone: (970) 491-2336