By Crystal Thompson
RUDYARD A graduation ceremony for members of the D.A.R.E. program was held at the Blue Sky High School gymnasium in Rudyard on Tuesday.
The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program consisted of a 17 week course for the fifth and sixth grade students of KG, Blue Sky, and J-I elementary schools. The program focused on drug resistance. Students learn valuable information about substance abuse and how to say no. Also incorporated in the program are ways to deal with family and school issues, and how to build self-esteem.
Dana Roe, instructor for the D.A.R.E. program, spoke at the graduation and expressed his delight with the program and the students involved. This was Roe's second year as D.A.R.E. instructor.
Hill County Sheriff Tim Solomon and County Commissioner Pat Conway also spoke at the graduation. A fifth and a sixth grader from each school was chosen to read the essay they had written as a requirement for D.A.R.E. graduation. The essays reflected what the students had learned from the D.A.R.E. program, and what they planned to do with the knowledge. Essay readers included Molly Jurenka and Colleen Hybner from Blue Sky, Kendra Donoven and Kate Vosen from KG, and Stephanie Sundgren and Hanna Pimley from J-I.
The 2001 Hi-Line D.A.R.E. graduates:
Blue Sky Elementary; Logan Anderson, Adam Chvilicek, James Cockrum, Tanner Hall, Tyler Han, Michael Hauser, Cody Jurenka, Molly Jurenka, Vanessa Lipp, Desirae O'Neil, Robin Patrick, Chance Twedt, Jourdon Han, Colleen Hybner, Kira Fladstol, Jeremiah Moog, Tia Pester, Megan Warren, Tiarelle Warren, Courtney Wendland, Darius Wendland.
KG Elementary; Marky Daniel, Casey Donoven, Kendra Donoven, Natasha Dyrland, Alan Papka-Kaul, Zack Rambo, Reece Sterner, Ryan Ulmen, Addie Adams, Tara Donoven, Shea Haugen, Amy Marshall, Branden Melby, Alden Moyer, Kaitlin Ramsbacher, L. Kate Vosen.
JI Elementary; Josh Beaudry, Joshua Lybeck, Mary Martinez, Chase Pimley, Shay Richter, Stephanie Sundgren, Breana Wolery, Torrie Wolery, Chase Hadford, Jennifer Henke, Keith Johnson, Hannah Pimley, Heather Pimley.
The D.A.R.E. graduation certificates were presented by D.A.R.E. high school role models Justus Wendland, Kristin Preeshl, and Julie Moog. Other D.A.R.E. role models include Cassidy Han, Mark Hybner, Lindsey Letang, Naomi Lipp, Hanna Warhank, Lauren Hanson, Sasha Haugen, Brooke Letang, Cari Fusk and Laine Lybeck.
