Fifth graders at Northside Elementary School received certificates during the annual D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony held Wednesday.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program was conducted by D.A.R.E. Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Each student prepares an essay during the course and those with the best essays from each class are recognized and awarded. This year’s essay winners at Northside are:
Mario Matias from Amy Raymond’s class
Jenna Wright from Amanda Griffith’s class
Xharia Lyons from Carrie Gottlied’s class
Abby Ludwig from Kristen Hankal’s class
Micah Bogle from Alisha Day’s class
Ryder Miller from Josh Odom’s class
McKenzie Sanders from Melissa Hale’s class
Melody Beltran from Cheryl Vandagriff’s class
McKenzie Sanders was the over-all winner and she read her essay during Wednesday’s program. In addition to the award, prizes, and recognition, Sanders gets to keep “Daren the Lion” the D.A.R.E. Mascot. General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II presented Sanders a check for $50.
D.A.R.E. is a cooperative effort by the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County School System, parents, and the community.
Other officials present for the ceremony were Northside Principal Karen Knowles, Assistant Principal Beth Pafford, Guidance Counselor Dr. Linda Bush, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, County Mayor Tim Stribling, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, Trustee Sean Driver, County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss, Assessor of Property Scott Cantrell. Other members of the Sheriff’s department were also in attendance along with Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Deputy Adamson.