STUDENTS GATHER AT UA CAMPUS FOR ANTI-DRUG RALLY

Thunder sounded through Bud Walton Arena on Thursday as more than
2,000 students from 17 middle schools in Benton, Carroll, Madison and
Washington counties stomped and cheered in an effort to win the
drug-free cheer competition for the ninth annual Red Ribbon Rally.

Red Ribbon Rally is held in commemoration of the National Red Ribbon
Week. A prerally show featured the Lincoln Wolf Pack Kids, in which
more than 200 elementary students demonstrated their gymnastics and
tumbling skills.

The ROTC Honor Guard officially opened the Rally, followed by Allison
Bolin, Maranda Tims and Hannah Ray of Holt Middle School singing the
National Anthem. Midnight Soundworks, a light and sound company,
featured Jeremy Austin and Chad Munroe, who served as the emcees of
the rally. Both said they have been drug free their entire lives.

Each school competed for the Red Ribbon Trophy by presenting a
oneminute Red Ribbon School Cheer. All schools received a Red Ribbon
Rally Spirit Stick made by students in the YouthCAN! program. A panel
of media representatives from throughout Northwest Arkansas was
responsible for selecting the best student cheer.

Mayor Dan Coody, Judges Jerry Hunton and Stacey Zimmerman and
University of Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt welcomed students
to the event, along with a number of other invited guests to offer
greetings and drug prevention messages at the Rally. "It wasn't too
long ago that my players were in the 3 rd, 4 th or 5 th grade," Nutt
said. "It's important to make good decisions as you grow up. One day
someone might ask you to smoke this, drink this or take this pill
because it will make you feel really good -- well, that is a lie. Keep
dreaming and set your goals high because you can do or be anything you
want. There will be snares along the way, but you will be strong."

University of Arkansas mascots, cheerleaders, McGruff the Dog,
Movin-NAction performers from Huntsville, Papa Rap and the
Multicultural Club of Rogers school district were all present as well.
The MC club has won the Red Ribbon Talent Competition for the last
three years with its breakdancing routine.

Representatives of local police departments, Washington County
Sheriff's office and the Washington County Fire Marshall's office
arranged for police vehicles, fire trucks, a search and rescue boat,
bomb squad truck, motorcycles and more to be on display outside of the
Bud Walton Arena area. Watch-DOG Dads of George Elementary School
volunteered their time to assist throughout the rally. Also featured
this year was a Soccer Club from Caroll County and Movin-In-Action, a
gymnastics demonstration team from Madison County, which presented a
"freedom theme" performance.

Zimmerman works at the juvenile court and spoke to students about the
consequences that drugs can have. "We just want to create drug
awareness and get the message out to kids to stay drug free,"
Zimmerman said. "This is my third year to attend the Red Ribbon Rally,
and this year some schools couldn't attend because of transportation
funding problems."

Barbara Price Davis is the executive director of Youth-CAN! and said
all schools in Northwest Arkansas are invited. "If there is a problem,
they can call us and we might be able to help," Davis said. "With
budget cuts, schools often don't have enough money."

Laurie Reh, prevention specialist, said they are aware that some
schools didn't attend this year and want more to be able to come. Reh
recommends that schools unable to attend this year's event call the
Prevention Resource Center and give feedback as to why they could not
make it.

The Red Ribbon Rally Task Force promoted an essay contest and asked
for students to submit their ideas on the importance of being drug
free. This year's winner was Brittany Hatfield from Watson
Intermediate in Huntsville. After reading her essay, Hatfield received
a basketball signed by the coaches and players of the men's basketball
program.

The Raven Foundation sponsored a donation of a pair of UA basketball
tickets to one winner from each participating school district. Ozark
Guidance donated Red Ribbon wrist bands for the students with the logo
"Proud to be Drug Free -- Northwest Arkansas Red Ribbon Rally." Chick
Filet also donated free coupons for all participants. "I have been
involved in the Red Ribbon Rally since it began nine years ago," said
Adella Gray, Gene George Elementary School counselor and member of the
Red Ribbon Rally Task Force. "Each year it has gotten bigger and
better and so have the chairs of the event. We usually plan about two
months beforehand and have three or four meetings. Our main hope is
that in the future, if students are in a situation involving drugs,
they will be able to think back to this event, remember something that
someone said and decide not to use drugs."