Forty-three students participated in the 2015 Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) class, meeting with Cook County Sheriff Deputy Ben Hallberg for 10 weeks. Students not only learn techniques to resist drug and alcohol use, but focus on decision making skills and building self-esteem. A graduation ceremony was held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Tuesday, May 19.
A Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) graduation ceremony was held Tuesday, May 19. Forty-three students were congratulated for completing the D.A.R.E. program which focuses on not just resisting drugs and alcohol, but also on decision making skills, healthy alternatives to drug use and helping build self-esteem.
Sheriff Deputy Ben Hallberg, the community D.A.R.E. officer, welcomed parents and community members in attendance and explained a bit about D.A.R.E. He talked a little bit about the changes in the D.A.R.E. program since it began back in 1983. He said it is now a worldwide program.
Hallberg said D.A.R.E. is a 10-week course that starts by teaching students about the D.A.R.E. decision making model and goes on to share information on the hazards of drugs and alcohol, on risks and consequences, on bullying and helping others.
An important part of the program, said Deputy Hallberg, is the lesson in which students put themselves in the middle of a worksheet, diagramming around them the people they could turn to if they needed help.
Special recognition went to three students, pictured here with Deputy Hallberg—Poster Contest winner Johnathan Huskey and the students who read their essays at the graduation, Olivia Nesgoda and Christiana Mendivil.
One of the requirements for D.A.R.E. graduation is to write an essay summing up what the D.A.R.E. program means. Each year the D.A.R.E. officer selects the best two essays to be read during graduation. Deputy Hallberg said that is a very difficult job.
Selected to read their essays—and to receive their very own cuddly D.A.R.E. lion souvenir were Olivia Nesgoda and Christiana Mendivil. They bravely read their essays about what they learned in D.A.R.E.
Deputy Hallberg also called forward Johnathan Huskey, who was a winner in the statewide D.A.R.E. poster contest. Hallberg congratulated Johnathan for creating a poster showing alternatives to using drugs, such as “getting outdoors.” Johnathan’s poster won 13th place out of 250 entries.
Chief Deputy Will Sandstrom was the guest speaker and he congratulated the D.A.R.E. graduates and asked them to remember the lessons of D.A.R.E. as they got older and had more difficult decisions to make.
The School District 166 Career Fair had many opportunities for students to consider different careers. North Shore Hospital had personnel on hand from laboratory, dietary, emergency services, and radiology. This young man checks out some X-rays.
Students were then called forward to receive their D.A.R.E. certificate and a firm congratulatory handshake from D.A.R.E. instructor Hallberg.
The 2015 D.A.R.E. graduates are:
Laura Ashford-Ball
Caleb Benedix
Tanner Berglund
Sylvia Berka
Nate Bilben
Amy Carpenter
Cecelia Chmelik
Faelan Coldwater
Keira Crow
Taylor DeBoer
Sienna Deneweth
Daunte Deschampe
Isaiah Deschampe
Jacob Dorr
Aram Falter
Riley Goettl
Anna Hay
Miles Heags
Ella Hedstrom
Anna Heeren
Jorden Herrly
Merlin Higgins
Shaelyn Hingos
Johnathan Huskey
Emma James
Molly LaVigne
Annie Lynch
Lucas Martinson
Christiana Mendivil
Olivia Nesgoda
Stirling Pollock
Rhonnie Poyirier
Greta Roth
Issac Sandstrom
Jonah Schmidt
RaeAnne Silence
Hailey Smith
Silas Sobanja
Ella Sporn
Morgan Starkey
Gavin VanDoren
Charlet Waver
Sadie Wilson
U.S. Forest Service staffer Myra Theimer shows a young student some measuring techniques.
University of Minnesota Small Business Development Center Representative Pat Campanaro was there with information on how to start your own business.
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