Pubdate: Sun, 20 May 2001
Source: Hobbs News-Sun (NM)
Copyright: 2001 Hobbs News-Sun
Contact:  http://www.hobbsnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/783
Author: Howard L. Everidge

A ROUSING D.A.R.E. GRADUATION

The D.A.R.E. program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), sponsored by the 
Hobbs Police Department in conjunction with Hobbs Municipal Schools, 
graduated 590 sixth-graders from the 11 public elementary schools and St. 
Helena.

"I speak at a lot of graduation and commencement ceremonies," said New 
Mexico Junior College President Steve McCleery, Ph.D., "But this is one of 
the most important that is happening in Hobbs."

McCleery, who shared a personal story with the students of how alcohol 
abuse impacted the life of a person very close to him - his wife who 
tragically lost her mother in an alcohol related incident - told them how 
his wife learned to make good choices about the things that effected her 
life, and challenged the students to do the same.

"The greatest freedom we have is our ability to choose," McCleery said. 
"Life's successes are about making good choices and about doing the right 
thing."

"My challenge to you, as you move on from the sixth-grade to junior high, 
is to make good choices, to make right decisions."

The importance of students making the right choices was also emphasized by 
Sgt. Mark Herrera who heads the D.A.R.E. program within the Hobbs Police 
Department.

"You have only just begun to live your lives and already you have had to 
make choices," Herrera said. "You have obviously made some good choices 
about drugs and alcohol or you would not be graduating here today."

The D.A.R.E. program, which is offered in the sixth-grade classes of each 
of the elementary schools, has a 17-week curriculum taught by trained 
uniform police officers who visit each participating class one hour per 
week during the semester

The program emphasizes providing the students with realistic information on 
preventing drug use and alcoholism, resisting peer pressure, violence and 
conflict resolution and alternatives to drug use.

The program's primary instructor and administrator is Officer Shirley 
Garcia, an 11 year veteran who serves as the HPD community education 
officer for D.A.R.E.

"I truly believe in what I do and want children to understand the risk and 
consequences of drug use," Garcia said.

The graduation ceremony, which was the first combined ceremony with the 
sixth grade classes from all 12 elementary schools, had a mix of adult and 
student participation.

In addition to words of praise and encouragement from McCleery, Herrera, 
Garcia and Officer Cathleen Rix, the students were treated to a special 
guest appearance by "Daren" the D.A.R.E. mascot, and special performances 
by several students.

A "rap song" called Against Drugs was performed by a trio of rappers, Adam 
Lowe, Rickey Ansley and Deric Haynes.

During the year each student wrote an essay on a drug related theme and the 
first- and second-place essay winners from each participating class were 
recognized.

Michael Lawless, for Coronado Elementary, was named the grand prize essay 
winner for writing the best essay among all the entries and was given the 
honor of reading his essay live on stage.

Special acknowledgment and recognition was also given to three community 
organizations - the Independent Order of Oddfellows, the Crescent Rebekahs 
and Kaleidoscope Theta Rho - for their generally strong support of the 
D.A.R.E program and setting a record for this year's annual D.A.R.E. 
fundraiser.
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MAP posted-by: Beth