D.A.R.E. Essay:  Samantha's story: 

Miss Samantha Vescovi was chosen as the DARE essay winner for her class. Samantha chose to write about a personal experience involving herself and her father when she was only seven years old.

Unfortunately Samantha's father abused drugs and cigarettes and on one occasion encouraged Samantha to try smoking a cigarette. Samantha explains what happened in her DARE essay and how that experience with her father, reinforced by the lessons taught to her in  DARE class, has convinced her to remain drug and alcohol free and to make smart, healthy decisions in her life. Samantha's father died of a drug overdose shortly after the incident that Samantha wrote about in her essay.

Essay provided by:

Henry Osterkamp

Chief of Police

Ormond Beach Police Department

Ormond Beach, Florida

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From: Marilou Andrews, Principal, Laurel Oak Elementary, Collier County, Florida.

We had the pleasure of having our DARE graduation at Laurel Oak Elementary and I wanted to make sure to let you know how much we appreciated all the hard work of our YRD's as well as the important information this program provides to our students. Sgt. Dean as well as Cpl. Sutton, Cpl. Rogers, and Cpl. Schloendorn were professional and well prepared for the students, staff, and the many parents in attendance.
Thank you again for all the Sherriff's department does for the schools!

Sincerely,
Marilou Andrews, Principal

 

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Photos taken by Efrain Hernandez

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Austin Hill

D.A.R.E. America Youth Advisory Board

Florida Representative

Hello, and a warm welcome from the Sunshine State!

My name is Austin Hill, and I am the D.A.R.E. youth advisory board member for the state of Florida. I am 16 years old and a Junior at Tavares High School, which is located right about in the middle of the state. ..MORE