The DeKalb West School D.A.R.E. program held its graduation ceremony last Friday, recognizing the sixth-grade students who participated in the program and honoring three for the annual essay contest.

D.A.R.E is an excellent opportunity for officers to build positive relationships with the youth of our community. It provides children the opportunity to learn and practice positive decision-making skills to lead safe and healthy lives. Students will learn to use the D.A.R.E. decision making model to help them navigate difficult or uncomfortable situations or challenges they may face in life.

In the special ceremony last Friday, local county officials, law enforcement personnel, Coordinated School Health staff, the DeKalb Prevention Coalition, school administrators, students and families were in attendance. Sheriff Patrick Ray spoke to the assembly and welcomed School Resource Officer Billy Tiner, who officiated the award recognition.

Jace Davis was the essay winner from Ms. Missy Sliger’s homeroom, while Bradi Turney had the best paper in Ms. Kayley Curtis’ homeroom. Each received a $25 gift card from the DeKalb Prevention Coalition and other prizes. Paisley Avera was the overall top essay winner, taking home a $50 gift card from the DeKalb Prevention Coalition and other gifts. Paisley read her essay during Friday’s D.A.R.E. graduation program.

Avera will compete with the overall DeKalb Middle School essay winner, to be named later and one of the two will advance to the state for the Tennessee D.A.R.E. Essay Competition sponsored by the Tennessee D.A.R.E Officer’s Association.

If a student from this district wins the state competition, the Tennessee D.A.R.E Officers Association will pay for the student and their family to attend the D.A.R.E. luau in Pigeon Forge at the state D.A.R.E. conference.

Those in this year’s graduating class, receiving completion certificates, were Paisley Avera, Wyatt Bain, Oliver Bell, Hayden Caraway, Jameson Carter, Leah Chittwood, Samson Chittwood, Tyler Clemons, Taelyn Cork, Jayden Curtis, Jace Davis, Stanton Fakes, Zara Fox, Kynlee Griffith, Caison Grisham, Chase Groshong, Nixson Hale, Cash Hancock, Addison Harbaugh, Sawyer Hendrix, Sylar Hickman, Bella Holder, Cainnan Humphrey, Lorenzo Johnson, Luke Johnson, Waylon Ketchum, Holden Leiser, Jackie Lloyd, Bailey McDaniel, Hailey Medrano, Ivy Melton, Zadah Miller, Karson Mullinax, Jaxson Murphy, Mason Nicholas, Griselda Nicholson, Adysen Olivas, Karlee Pierce, Derek Pinkston, Shayla Rebertus, Conner Robinson, Jasen Sandlin, Colton Saso-Varble, Isabella Scott, Kayla Sebolt, Lexie South, Turner Stanley, Bradi Turney, Maddox Vickers, Kensley Womack and Lucas Yancey.