January 17 News Story
St. Marys Fifth Graders Graduate from D.A.R.E.
D.A.R.E. Essay winners including: Lauren Barnes, Natalie Ahlers, Andrew Hosek, Rachel Stilwell, Brittany Schwartz, Krystal Slusher and Coty Pendergraft, were presented with awards by Deputy Scott Evans (right) during D.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies at the MHS Performing Arts Center.
ST. MARYS -- More than 200 fifth graders in the St. Marys City School District became official D.A.R.E. graduates during inspirational ceremonies Thursday at the MHS Performing Arts Center.
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program is administered countywide by Auglaize County Sheriff Deputy Scott Evans. All of the elementary schools in the St. Marys participated in a combined graduation ceremony, featuring guest speaker Bill Havens.
"We really emphasized self-esteem to the kids this year," Evans said. "I think it's very important that these kids grow up to be proud, dignified and true."
St. Marys Superintendent Dr. Paul Blaine thanked Evans, who initiated the DARE program locally as an officer with the St. Marys City Police Department.
Blaine also challenged the graduating students to remain drug free when they returned to the complex as seventh graders and when they meet again as a class when they graduate from high school.
Havens, a nationally known motivational speaker, is often referred to as "Mr. Clean" because it was his likeness that Proctor and Gamble used on the cleaning product of the same name.
A former teacher and football coach, Havens spoke on the topic of "Winners Bounce," emphasizing to the students that tough times are ahead and a positive attitude is the key to success.
Evans then presented plaques and medal to the essay contest winners from each class which included Andrew Hosek, Natalie Ahlers, Lauren Barnes, Krystal Slusher, Rachel Stilwell, Brittany Schwartz and Coty Pendergraft.
The students then stood to take a pledge to remain drug-free and then each received a certificate, t-shirt and card.
Evans concluded by challenging each student to "be their own hero" and look to themselves to do what's right when they are offered drugs and alcohol in the future.
Evans also thanked the DARE sponsors whose contributions of funds and other resources help make the program possible. They include: the Wapakoneta Lions Club; Unique Awards and Signs; Time Warner Cable; Auglaize County Sheriff's Auxiliary; Tri-State Gun Collectors; Guiding Hands OCCL; Auglaize County Commissioners; Moulton Elementary PTO; West Elementary PTO; East Elementary PTO; Noble Elementary PTO.
VFW Ladies Aux. Post 8445; WKKI K-94; Kinder-Kare OCCL; St. Marys McDonalds; Office of the Attorney General, Betty Montgomery; Best Western of Wapakoneta; Buckland Intermediate PTO; Stahr Video; Grand Lake CPCU; VFW Post 9289 Clown Unit; American Legion Aux. Unit 323.
The graduating classes included:
Mr. Finke: Natalie Ahlers; Megan Arnold; Kelli Bailey; Steven Blake; David Bonisegna; Emily Brotherwood; Clinton Cramer; David Dowling; Nick Fanning; Laura Fiely; Brian Fleagle; Cortni Fleagle; Brad Frazier; Kyle Frederick; Amanda Harbaum; Kyle Henning; Trevor Holt; Matt Huber; Shannon Johnsman; Lauren Miller; Jordan Mullins; Jessica Prenatt; Daniel Sears; Marcus Sheipline; Emily Shelladarger; Kyle Smith; Katrina Thomas; Kirk Wietholter.
Mrs. Dickrede: Cody Brown; Drew Chiles; Ben Dennings; Kayla Drummond; Tyler Dunham; Jordan Enerud; Nicolette Engle; Kursten Fenwick; Alysia Freewalt; Ashley Garman; Ryan Gorby; Zachary Hedrick; Adam Horton; ANdrew hosek; Ashley Howell; Blaise Katter; Erin Klopfenstein; Shelby Liggett; Shawn Mann; Natasha Rouse; Laura Smothers; Marissa Wenning; Brandy Wilson.
Mrs. Boley: Heather Bradford; Nathan Brown; Jay Cook; Emily Davis; Mark Davis; Natasha Goubeau; Seth Hertenstein; Daniel Imwalle; Jennifer Johnson; Adam Knous; Alycia Lykins; Zach Martin; Kara McBride; Megan Miller; Justin Moran; Brad Nale; Megan Nedderman; Michael Pardon; Courtney Roby; Ashley Simons; Rachel Stilwell; Wesley Tebbe; Crystal Toler; Brennan Whetstone; Scott Widman; Garrett Yahl.
Mrs. Kerns: Crystal Aguiler; Adam Beckman; Jeff Coleman; Josh Coleman; Robert Cotterman; Dustin Daisy; Chase Dunlap; Anthony Genitempo; Kori Howell; Jordan Kochert; Samantha Neeley; Lyndsay Nelson; Steve Rockwood; Brandon Ruffner; Brandon Russell; Kristina Ruvoldt; Brittany Schwartz; Andrew Silver; Trevor Stalnaker; Alex Townsend; Brittany Whitman; Brittanie Williams; Dex Yelton; Crystal Zumbroegel.
Mrs. Vossler: Courtney Ball; Jessica Brown; Angela Chaney; Justin Frey; Sarah Gay; Kyle Gibson; Kayleen Goodwin; Samantha Graham; Lori Henning; Vanessa McDermitt; Seth Norman; Coty Pendergraft; Brandon Phipps; Losh Ricker; Shawn Ring; Joshua Schmehl; Jessica Schmidt; Tara Skeens; Chad Slaven; Nick Stabelli; Danielle Stein; Rechellea Sturwold; Alice Vogan.
Mrs. Johnson: Eric Amato; Andrea Angstmann; Justin Belton; Lauren Coffey; Jon Craft; Marcus Dodds; Danielle Geiger; Brad Hardee; Katherine Jones; Kayla Lengerich; Casey Leugers; Justin Makely; Brandon Moran; Jordan Price; Tessa Rohrbach; Kyle Slife; Brettney Slone; John Slone; Krystal Slusher; Stevie Thomas; Jon Watterbusch; David Wheeler; Josh Young; Yan Lheng; Daniel Pyle.
Mrs. Nuss: Lauren Barnes; Jameel Brenneman; Seth Brigham; Jason Burke; Carla Dias; Kevin Flasco; Koby Frye; Ryan Gossard; Dustin Halbert; Kelsey Hall; Alisha Hawkey; Dustin Howell; Leslie Humpries; John Lauth; James Meeker; Jordan Minnich; Ellen Moran; Austin Mulins; Kyle Opperman; Tyler Sawmiller; Justin Scott; Sara Scott; Russell Sweeney; Emma Yohey.
(From Left) Superintendent Paul Blaine, DARE Deputy Scott Evans and Auglaize County Sheriff Larry Longsworth help present certificates and t-shirts to DARE graduates.
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