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DARE keeps the message alive
News- Tribune - May 2009
SHORT GAP — “I thought the DARE program was very educational. It made me realize how important it is to make the right choices to stay healthy,” Frankfort Middle School fifth grader Bradley Grimm wrote in his Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) essay.
“I want to succeed in school,” he continued. “I want to continue making my family, friends, and teachers proud of me. I want to live a long, healthy life.
“Thank you, Sheriff Fraley, for spending your time teaching us the value of smart choices and for being a positive role model.”
Grimm's essay earned him the first-place award during Frankfort Middle's DARE graduation held Thursday at the school.
Second place winner was McKenna Miller, who wrote about the fact that there are “over 200 known poisons in cigarette smoke and that can affect all different kinds of parts in your body, especially your heart and lungs.”
“I have learned there are many people I can turn to or ask for advice when it comes to drugs and alcohol,” she said.
Third place went to Alex Hay, who wrote, “DARE is a good program that teaches children how to resist drugs and violence. It will also teach you how to get out of a situation when you are pressured. If you participate in DARE, you will have a good time, gain confidence, and get an education at the same time.”
Honorable mention was given to Chris Woods and Shyanne Riley.
For his participation in class and all-round achievement, Colton Pollock was named the Outstanding DARE student for the year.
“I think DARE is an important program because it is educational and it teaches you how to be drug-free,” he wrote in his essay. “I learned a huge amount of information. DARE teaches people to stay away from drugs, and teaches what drugs can do to you.”
Sheriff Craig Fraley, who has been the Mineral County DARE officer since 1991, emceed the graduation ceremony, telling the packed bleachers that the students in the five fifth grade classes are “now role models” for the younger students.
“The t-shirt that they wear is a visual pledge that they promise they will go drug-free,” he said.
Don Ward, owner of the Chick-fil-A restaurants in Cumberland, was the guest speaker for the program. He encouraged the parents to continue to support their children and encouraged the students to continue to pursue their dreams.
“Our children are a message that you and I send to a time that we won't see,” he said. “What kind of message do we want to send?”
To the students, he said, “All of you have something to contribute. Every single one of you has worth. Whatever you have the passion to do, go after it with everything you can.”
Fraley also presented participation awards to three students in each of the five classes. Honored were: Julianna Butcher, Kaelin Collage, Evan Corwell, Addison Gray, Joe Griffith, Abby Walters, Noah Bible, Cheyenne Crock, Sarah Secrist, Chris Brinkman, Mac Geis, Megan Seib, Skylar Martin, Chase Messick, and Saul Shockey.
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