Essay Winners Recognized During D.A.R.E Graduation at DeKalb West School

Fifth graders at DeKalb West School received certificates during the annual D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony held Tuesday.
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 DeKalb West School are Alex Antoniak from Jeanna Caplinger’s class and Tess Barton from Nadina Martel’s class.
Barton was the over-all winner. In addition to the award, prizes, and recognition, Barton gets to keep “Daren the Lion” the D.A.R.E. Mascot and she received a $50 check from Judge Bratten Cook II. Tish Summers made the presentation in Judge Cook’s absence.
In addition to Sheriff Patrick Ray and Chief Deputy Adamson, others on hand for the ceremony were DeKalb West School Principal Sabrina Farler, School Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, Trustee Sean Driver, County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss, Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell, Road Supervisor Butch Agee, employees of the Sheriff’s Department, and a real life DAREN THE LION.
Fifth graders in Jeanna Caplinger’s class are:
Alex Antoniak, Cadon Barrett, Graceson Boyd, Alyssa Crook, Ethan Curtis, Nickolas Dandurand, Marshall Farler, Will Farris, Presley Finocchiaro, Riley Fuson, Blair Gipe, Jaxon Humphrey, Austin Nicholson, Allena O’Conner, Kayleigh Overstreet, Xavier Parker, Serenity Patterson, Hannah Redmon, Bristol Redmon, Austin Sardessai, Brooklyn Sutherland, Karly Vickers, and Hasten Waggoner.
Fifth graders in Nadina Martel’s class are:
Tess Barton, Trey Beilfuss, Hunter Cannon, Brayden Carter, Gavin Cooper, Angelina Davenport, Carson Donnell, Brynn Harvey, Zoi Hale, Ella Hendrixson, Shauna Kempf, Weslie McCowan, Melanie Ortiz, Maressa Rose, Brayden Saliski, Kolton Slager, Karson Smallwood, Ashley Sosa, Shelby Starnes, Jackson Vantrease, Hanniah West, and Ally Tarpley.