RUMFORD - TJ Williams was shocked and amazed that a group he launched less than a year ago is being recognized for helping Maine become the first state in the country to ban flavored cigarettes and cigars.

That recognition comes from the American Lung Association of Maine, and takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the South Portland Marriott hotel.

Williams, a senior at Mountain Valley High School, and several other area students will be in the company of such well-known recipients of other lung association awards as former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell and the state's director of the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Dora Anne Mills.

Besides Williams, Laura Murphy, Abigail Bronish and Megan Arsenault, all juniors, are also being honored, although only Murphy and Williams are able to attend the Friday event.

SAD 43 is transporting Williams and Murphy, Williams' mother, Michelle, and Victoria Ojeda, a Spanish teacher at the high school and adviser for Ignite and the Youth Wellness Team, to the South Portland ceremony, said Williams.

Williams and a handful of other high school students started Ignite Oxford County in February. It is the only such group in the state, and one of only 11 nationwide. Its goal is to fight youth smoking.

Stephanie Thompson, substance abuse prevention coordinator for the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, took Williams and other young people to a leadership conference a year or so ago. That conference led to Williams deciding to get involved with Ignite.

She is thrilled for the honor Williams will receive on Friday.

"We never expected this," she said Thursday night. "It's very exciting for the area."

She plans to attend the South Portland ceremony.

She said Ignite Oxford County, now with 9 to 16 members, will take over the duties of the Students Working Against Tobacco group,

Williams said his group will speak before the freshman class on Tuesday.

In late October, he will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to attend the Ignite National Conference with other young people from around the country.

The local Ignite group began working for a bill to ban the sale of flavored cigarettes and cigars in April. They spoke at a news conference sponsored by the Maine Coalition on Smoking or Health, then testified at a public hearing.

Williams said the law was signed by Gov. John E. Baldacci on May 22.

The high school senior hopes to go to a branch of the University of Maine system next fall and major in social work or political science.