Pubdate: Sat, 09 Dec 2006
Source: Branson Daily News (MO)
Copyright: 2006 The Branson Daily News
Contact:  http://www.bransondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4031
Author: Brandon Cone, BDN Staff Writer

STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM D.A.R.E.

The leaders of tomorrow at Hollister Middle School  finished a 
program on Friday that will help ensure they  make better choices in 
the future.

Hollister was able to hold its first Drug Abuse  Resistance Program 
graduation Monday morning for its  fifth- and sixth-grade classes.

Traditionally, the program is only taught to  fifth-grade students, 
but because Hollister's  sixth-graders did not get to participate in 
the program  last year they were invited to do so this year.

"Last year, our fifth-graders got passed up," said  Middle School 
Principal Mary Lou Combs. "So, when we  set up for this year's 
fifth-graders, we set it up for  the sixth-graders as well, so that 
no one would get  passed up, because I believe this is one of the 
best drug prevention programs out there."

Mayor David Tate and State Rep. Dennis Woods spoke at  the graduation 
and expressed how proud they are of the  students.

"I am very proud," Tate said to the students. "This is  really a big 
thing that you have done. By going through  D.A.R.E you have learned 
to make right choices, and I  know you will."

Woods issued a challenge to the students.

"I stand before you a 60-year-old man, who has never  tasted beer," 
Woods said. "I challenge you to come back  and stand upon this stage 
someday and say the same  thing to the children of that generation."

Taney County Deputy Chris Sims taught the 10-week  program to the 
children and also had encouraging words  for them at graduation.

"The most important thing I tried to teach to these  students was how 
to respond," Sims said, "and I  honestly believe they know how to do that."

Out of the 170 students that received graduation  honors, nine of 
those students were specially  recognized for having the best D.A.R.E 
report essays,  summing up what they had learned from Sims, teachers, 
and high school role models.

Fifth graders honored for their essays were Morgan  Blevins, Tiffany 
Roberts, Breana Figueroa and Kathryn  Jensen.

Sims said teachers narrowed down which essays they felt  were best, 
then let dispatchers at the sheriff's  department and his wife read 
the essays to help him  decide which was the best.

"I wanted the students to put what they had learned  into their own 
words," Sims said of the criteria the  essays were judged upon.

Roberts was recognized as having the best overall  D.A.R.E. report in 
the fifth grade, which she read for  the students, teachers, school 
staff and employees and  parents in attendance.

She read, "Be wise don't throw away your life because  you see 
someone else do it (drugs) ... Wouldn't you  rather die of old age 
than from drug and alcohol  abuse?"

Enrique DeWolf, Ashley Vest, Kristen Kennedy and Arjane  Stephenson 
were the sixth graders that were honored for  their essays. Sims said 
the sixth grade classes voted  on the one they liked best.

Sims went against the classes and recognized Skyla  Gunter as having 
the best overall.

"This is one I felt was best and my wife and  dispatchers agreed," Sims said.

Gunter also read her essay which said, "D.A.R.E is  wonderful and has 
taught everyone to make good choices  ... It has helped me be the 
person I want to be and  that is drug free."
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