Pubdate: Fri, 27 Oct 2006
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times (Fayetteville, AR)
Copyright: 2006 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/828
Author: Kate Ward

RED RIBBON RALLY

University of Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt told area 
fifth-graders on Thursday that the secret to success is to stay drug free.

" As you get older, there's going to be more temptation, " Nutt said. 
" One day, someone's going to ask you to ' drink this' or ' smoke 
this' or ' take this pill' because it will make you feel better. 
Well, I'm here to tell you that's a lie. "

Nutt was one of three speakers during the 10 th annual Red Ribbon 
Rally at Bud Walton Arena.

" If you're committed to your dreams and goals, then I'm going to 
encourage you to keep making good decisions, " he said. " You need to 
keep your body clean, to eat right and to sleep right so you can be 
successful. "

Event coordinator Laurie Reh estimated the Red Ribbon Rally attracted 
nearly 1, 000 students from 11 school districts in Washing-ton, 
Benton, Madison and Carol counties.

" We keep in touch with teachers every year, " Reh said. " We work 
with fifthgrade teachers and school staff to start getting the word 
out during the spring and summer. "

While attendance for the drug free rally varies from year to year, 
Reh said gas prices had an impact on this year's turnout.

" Each school district only has a limited number of field trips they 
can take each year, " she said.

The Red Ribbon Rally is planned in conjunction with National Red 
Ribbon Week at this time each year. The event is intended to 
supplement and support schoolbased activities that are also focusing 
on drug prevention.

The rally in Fayetteville is offered as a regional event to bring 
young people together with their peers to encourage better choices, Reh said.

" The Red Ribbon Rally targets fifth graders because its a pivotal 
point for them, " she said. " It's a good time for them to see their 
peers supporting a drug free life and making smart choices. It's also 
before they get into an age group when there's more pressure on them. "

Reh, who also serves as the coordinator for the Region 1 Prevention 
Resource Center in Springdale, said the drugfree rally focuses on 
getting students excited about making smart choices. During the 
rally, fifth-graders from each school compete to see which class can 
come up with the best drug-free cheer. The winning school gets to 
take home the spirit stick. This year's rally was led by Al Lopez, 
aka Papa Rap, along with local independent disc jockeys Chad Munroe 
and Jeremy Austin.

" It's not necessarily the volume of the cheer that is judged, " 
Lopez said. " It's the actual message you deliver. "

Though students from every school gave it their all, judges named 
Walker Elementary as the overall spirit rally winner.

Assistant Razorback basketball coach Dan Hipsher talked to students 
about the importance of learning to say no.

" The easiest word in the English dictionary for a parent to teach 
their kid is the word ' yes, '" he said. " But the most important 
words for you to learn are, ' no, ' or ' I can't, ' or ' I shouldn't, 
' because once you've made poor choices, it's hard to go back. "

Hipsher told students that the person who makes the most demands of 
them is the person who cares about them the most.

" Successful kids understand that there will always be someone there 
for them, " he said.

Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton read a proclamation declaring 
Oct. 22-26 as Red Ribbon Week.

" Stay away from alcohol, tobacco and drugs, " Hunton said. " For you 
all to be successful, you need to try your best to stay clean. "

Reh said this year's speakers did a good job delivering a drug-free 
message to students.

" They all volunteer their time to be here, " she said. " They're 
drug-free adults, and they're letting the kids see that you can have 
a great life if you stay drug free. "
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MAP posted-by: Elaine