450 GRADUATE FROM DARE PROGRAM

Drug Awareness Taught In Nine Schools

Renea Causey says being a DARE officer is like being a soldier in battle.
Causey and fellow Hattiesburg police officer Charles Johnson held a DARE
graduation party Tuesday for about 450 Hattiesburg sixth-graders at the
Saenger Theatre downtown.

"There's so much negativity in the world," she said. "I feel like I'm a
soldier in the field trying to fight it all."

Causey and fellow Hattiesburg police officer Charles Johnson held a DARE
graduation party Tuesday for about 450 Hattiesburg sixth-graders at the
Saenger Theatre downtown.

"It's a celebration for them having completed the program," Causey said.
"They've worked really hard."

Musical acts and special guest speakers showed the children some positive
alternatives to gangs and drugs.

"It surprised me that you can do a lot of other fun things instead of
drugs," said Ayona McGilberry, 11, who won second place in the Lillie
Burney Elementary DARE essay contest. "You can dance and play basketball
and go skating and hang out with your friends."

McGilberry and other essay winners won trophies and stuffed lions wearing
the DARE logo. The top DARE student from each school also received a
brand-new mountain bike and helmet, compliments of community donations,
Causey said.

D.A.R.E. - an acronym for Drug Abuse Resistance Education - was taught in
nine Hattiesburg elementary schools over a 10-week period this fall and
Tuesday marked the students' pledge to stay drug-free.

Various city leaders were on hand to congratulate the students, including
Mayor Johnny DuPree and Police Chief David Wynn.

"It's good to be drug-free, isn't it?" DuPree asked.

"YES SIR!" the students screamed in unison, all clad in their red D.A.R.E.
T-shirts.

The program, founded in 1983, is designed to teach kids how to make good
decisions. The curriculum includes information about drugs, as well as role
playing to help the children learn to "just say 'no'."

The local program is funded from private donations and portions of traffic
tickets issued in Hattiesburg. The program is also included in the police
department budget. Police spokeswoman Robin Walker said Tuesday she could
not provide the amount of money the city gives the program.

"I think D.A.R.E. is very successful," Causey said. "Some critics don't
think it's working, but my thought on that is something's better than nothing."

The children who graduated Tuesday said they think it works.

"Some kids, I think, will go to drugs some day," said Shanice Mitchell, 11,
who won first place in the Lillie Burney Elementary School D.A.R.E. essay
contest. "But most won't, and I won't."

"I think it's good for the children on the streets," said Deandrea Tate,
11, from Alpha Christian School. "It works a lot for me."

Causey said the program is especially important in urban areas.

"Most of these students were from the inner city schools, and those are the
ones you really have to get in there and work with," she said.

"I love what I do," Causey said. "I've been told, 'Renea, you can't save
the world. You can't save all those kids.' But if I save just three of
them, I've done my part."

[SIDEBARS]

D.A.R.E. FACTS

* 26 million American children will take the course this year

* 80 percent of U.S. school districts and 54 countries teach D.A.R.E.

* 12,000-plus communities use the program

* 50,000-plus D.A.R.E. officers teach the program throughout the U.S.

* It costs $12 per child for all educational materials

Source: D.A.R.E. Web site

TOP D.A.R.E. STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED NEW MOUNTAIN BIKES AND HELMETS

Malea Jordan- Thames Elementary

Bridget Andrews- Hawkins Elementary

Kellie Smith- Lillie Burney Elementary

Carmon Sutton- Alpha Christian School

Quishawnta Burton- Grace Christian Elementary

Charlie Johnson- Rown Elementary

Zehra Livingston- Sacred Heart Catholic School

Jarmel Hyde- Woodley Elementary

Nacara Sims- Earl Travillion Attendance Center