PUPILS INDUCTED INTO JUST SAY NO CLUB

NEW MARKET - Fourth-graders' induction into South Montgomery Just Say
No clubs Friday morning was extra special. The ceremony was the first
to be scheduled for the new Southmont High School auditorium.

An estimated 125 fourth-graders participated in the annual ceremony.
Ladoga fourth-grade teacher Naomi Mingus was happy the children could
show their desire to say no to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and enjoy
the inauguration of the new facility.

South Montgomery normally conducts the mass ceremony during Red Ribbon
Week, which concluded Friday.

"The new auditorium is a grand facility," Mingus said.

After the Southmont band finished its pre-ceremony selections, South
Montgomery Superintendant Bret Lewis welcomed the smiling faces of the
children seated in the new auditorium.

"I'm proud of each and every one of you," Lewis said. "You have taken
a big step to be drug-free. You are setting an example. Your character
counts every minute of your life. You are in charge of your destiny."

Wabash College football coach Chris Creighton, the main speaker, told
the eager faces that using drugs was not worth it in the long run.

"Is it worth it to throw (commitment to just say no to drugs) away?"
Creighton asked. "Everytime we are put into a situation (where there
may be drugs available), we're got to ask ourselves, 'Is it really
worth it to throw away your commitment?' "

Will Certain, co-captain and offensive lineman for the Wabash football
team, played a "Simon Says" game with the children, which included
fourth-graders screaming out, "No," to ever using drugs.

Certain is from Prescott Valley, Ariz.

In addition to the band, other performances came from Southmont's
Panache show choir members, and the county PRIDE team.

"This is good for our kids to see the older kids perform for them,"
Walnut Elementary principal Ken Cushman said after dismissing the
children and their teachers.

"These older kids are good role models - we desperately need these
good role models," Cushman said.