HENDERSON SIXTH GRADERS COMPLETE DARE PROGRAM

Sixth-graders at Henderson Intermediate School have a new resolve to fight
off peer pressure and stay away from drugs now that they have graduated
from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, program.

Two hundred thirty students earned their certificate of completion at their
May 3 graduation ceremony. In addition to the students, school
administrators, role models and members from the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's
office were on hand to celebrate the event.

"It's good to see 230 kids graduate from this kind of program," Sheriff
Dolph Bryan said. "It's had an impact since its implementation, and we hope
we'll continue to see more of an impact in the future. Students interact
more with police officers; they make friends with them. Those friendships
last for years to come."

Supt. Larry Box and Henderson Principal J.M. Burkes congratulated the
students for their successful completion of the program. Students also
earned a special patriotic DARE T-shirt, a concept that sprung from the
events of Sept. 11, according to Officer Sammy Shumaker.

"This group of students has been through a lot, with the Sept. 11 tragedy
happening at the beginning of the school year," Shumaker said. "It has
impacted all of us - that's why we chose the patriotic theme for our
t-shirts this year. We know how fortunate we are to be living in this
community and in this nation."

The DARE program has been a part of the Starkville School District since
the early 90s, seniors at Starkville High School who served as role models
this year recalled their own graduation. "We learned the DARE principles
when we came through Henderson and now we're here as role models," Tee
Milons said. "It's something to have kids looking up to you."

Role models were selected based on their grades and extra curricular
activities and worked with the students as they went through the program.

"We came (to Henderson) and talked with the kids during the school year,"
Marcie Milons said. "We talked about drugs and how to deal with pressure."

Other role models included Web Walters, Shawn Johnson, Latalla Harris, June
Straight, Shari Brooks, Courtney Phillips, Robert Garner, Greg Schuster,
Candace Wilson, Latroyas Thompson, Melody Pan, Kira Martin and Grant Roland.

Another aspect of the program had graduating students write essays on their
reflections of DARE and what they had learned. The four best essays, by
Jessica Rush, Dominique Neely, Olivia Osaji and Kurtis Jones, were read to
the audience as part of the graduating ceremony.

As the ceremony drew to a close, students were reminded of the important
commitment they had made and the need to make a difference within their
community.

"Remember what you have been taught and use it in your life," Shumaker
said. "You will face some big challenges, but keep these principles in your
memory bank. No one will take care of you better than you. "You are a new
generation and you can change things. Today marks the day that change
begins and it's up to you."