The fifth grade DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) class graduated at DeKalb West School Thursday.
The program is conducted by DARE Instructor and Chief Deputy Don Adamson of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department.
Essays were written by the graduates, and those with the best essays received awards for their efforts.
Overall winner Jordan Crook read his essay at the ceremony. He was awarded Daren the Lion, the DARE Mascot, and was presented a check for $50 by Tish Summers on behalf of General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge Bratten Cook, II, who was unable to attend.
Crook and Riley Overstreet were the winners in this year’s contest. They are members of Jeana Caplinger and Nadina Manganiello’s classes.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, Chief Deputy Adamson, DeKalb West School Principal Danny Parkerson, Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen and employees of the Sheriff's Department attended the ceremony.
DWS DARE students graduate