LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Local students were rewarded for their hard work thanks to D.A.R.E.
10 kids from area schools had the Westgate Entertainment Center all to themselves on Thursday afternoon thanks to their hard work on their D.A.R.E. essays.
The annual essay competition has local youth write about their experience with D.A.R.E. and how they use the D.A.R.E. decision-making model to say no to drugs and alcohol.
The annual essay competition has local youth write about their experience with D.A.R.E. and how they use the D.A.R.E. decision-making model to say no to drugs and alcohol.
The Lima Police Department and the Lima Noon Optimist Club were on hand to congratulate the kids on their hard work. For D.A.R.E. Officer and Lima Policeman Eric Mericle, pizza, bowling and arcade games is just a small token to pay the kids back for their hard work.
"This is just fun - D.A.R.E is so much fun to teach when you get the kids interacting with you, and they ask great questions, and it's good just they learn by talking instead of just sitting there," said Mericle. "Getting them talking about all the issues that we discuss, like bullying, how to get away from certain situations if you're in a bad spot where somebody may be offering you alcohol or tobacco or things like that. There's just a lot and it's just so much fun to see how excited they get."
10 kids from area schools had the Westgate Entertainment Center all to themselves on Thursday afternoon thanks to their hard work on their D.A.R.E. essays.
Here's this year's essay winners:
- Liberty - Cora Klingler - Overall Winner
- St. Charles - Orion Turner - Runner Up
- St. Rose - Chance Butler
- Freedom - Gracelynn Stebleton
- Independence - Charles Mayberry
- Unity - Naveah Sturgeon
- St. Gerard - Teagen Songco
- Heir Force - Adrian Kursey
- Heritage - Tai'Ja Burse-Lawrence
- South - Madelyn Cupples
