110 W'BORO STUDENTS DARE TO GRADUATE

WHITESBORO -- About 110 fifth graders were presented with certificates of
graduation from the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in
ceremonies held in the Whitesboro Intermediate School cafetorium Wednesday.

For the past six years, Whitesboro police officer Mark Haning has served as
instructor for the 10-week program for fifth graders at the school, during
Coach Jason Langston's social studies class period.

During the program, Haning teaches the students the damaging effects the
use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine or methamphetamines can have on
the body. He also discusses the legal consequences of using illegal drugs
and how students can deal with peer pressure.

Haning said the D.A.R.E. program originated with the Los Angeles Police
Department in 1981 and is now in every state in the United States and in
some territories. In order to graduate from the program, each student must
write an essay about why he or she promises to say no to drugs.

Ten of those essays were selected as medal winners, and the students who
wrote them each stood before a microphone and read them aloud to the other
students, teachers and parents who were present for the ceremony.

The 10 essay winners are Paisley Brady, Savannah Hubbard, Gaby Munoz, Sam
Stoker, Brandi Henderson, Zak Withrow, Kris Davis, Matt Teremy, Lyndsey
Vaughn and Caleb Webb.

Principal Grant Sweeney told the parents, "Your kids are important to us.
We want to teach them how to make good decisions in life."

He told the students, "We care about you beyond the school yard."

Haning told the parents, "Moms and dads, be proud of your children. They're
great students."

He urged the parents, "Listen to your kids."

He said he has enjoyed working with the fifth graders over the years. "If I
can get one kid not to get on drugs, then my work will not have been in
vain," he said.

After the essay winners had read their essays and were given medals by
Haning, all 110 or so came forward to receive their graduation certificates
and were congratulated by fifth grade teacher Christi Bardwell, Police
Chief Paul Woody, City Administrator Michael Marter, Sweeney, and Haning.