LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Some local elementary students are getting rewarded for their hard work today thanks to the D.A.R.E. Program.
The Lima Police Department and D.A.R.E. teamed up for the annual D.A.R.E. Essay Competition, where young students write an essay on the lessons they learned in D.A.R.E. and how to apply the D.A.R.E. decision-making model when presented with a decision.
The students were taken to Westgate Entertainment Center, where they celebrated with pizza, fun games, and bowling for their outstanding work.
Each student present was the winner of their school's essay contest, and Lima Police Officer Eric Mericle was there to hand out the prizes they earned and congratulate them on understanding what D.A.R.E. is all about.
"How they explain and what they've taken from it. How they can use the D.A.R.E. decision-making model to when they get in those peer pressure choices when maybe their peers are asking them to do drugs or alcohol, or tobacco. How they can say no, where they can walk away, or they can give an excuse or a reason. One of my favorite ones I tell the kids is to give an excuse: 'Hey, you know what? I gotta go home and walk my goldfish.' Send 'em ya know, make 'em stunned by what you say, but know that you can walk away to get away from that bad decision and make that positive against that good outcome," said Patrolman Eric Mericle, D.A.R.E. and Safety City officer.
"What we learned in D.A.R.E. and how that all the rules about drugs and safety and how that everybody can do anything and make sure to never do drugs," explained Serenity Smith, a 5th grader from St. Rose and 1st Place essay winner.
2024 winners of the D.A.R.E. Essay Competition:
Lt. Leland
- St. Gerard - Jordan Kelly
- Heir Force - Nyla Johnson
- St. Rose - Serenity Smith (First Place Winner)
Sgt. Thompson
- Independence - Ny'Ajah Battle
- Heritage - Tarockis Greer Jr.
- Liberty - Lilith Lykins
Ptl. Mericle
- Unity - Taryn Hensley
- Freedom - Colton Teeters
- South - My'Ryah Nelson
