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.