Students from nine Warsaw elementary schools attended the DARE graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 14.

WARSAW — Students from nine Warsaw elementary schools, as well as families, teachers and law enforcement officers, gathered at the Grace College Manahan Orthopaedic Center in Winona Lake on Tuesday, May 14, for the annual DARE graduation.

DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, was founded in 1983. The police officer-led series of classroom lessons allows for students to learn the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs and violence.

This is the 30th year of the DARE program being offered to all Warsaw Community Schools’ sixth-grade students. The program was first implemented on Sept. 5, 1988.

The event began with Warsaw Police Department Detective Sergeant Brad Kellar performing the National Anthem. DARE Officers Roy Navarro and Allen Danko led the students in the R.O.A.R. greeting, with Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker, Winona Lake Police Chief Joe Hawn and Kosciusko County Sheriff Kyle Dukes acting as judges for which schools were the loudest and most enthusiastic.

Josh Schmucker was the keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony. He addressed the crowd about his journey from recovering as an alcoholic and encouraged the students to make healthy choices and learn good habits.

“You are the accumulation of the five people you hang out with most,” said Schmucker. “Treat other people the way you want to be treated. The character you display is what’s most important.”

During the graduation ceremony, a number of students were presented with awards. Some of the awards received are listed below.

2019 Student of the Year Awards

Sacred Heart Catholic School — Olivia Martinez
Jefferson — Mia Jones
Claypool — Josiah Rice
Lincoln — Kyler Polston
Eisenhower — Isaac Newsome
Leesburg — Brooklyn Nibert
Washington — Isaac Loane
Madison — Chole Ellenwood
Harrison — Savanna Daniels

2019 DARE Essay Winners

Austin Burnworth
Callen O’Brien
Carson Chizum
Claudia Gonzalez
Dylan Applegate
Ellie Schenck
Emma Van Puffelen
Emmanuel Valencia
Gracie Fritz
Jayla Goings
Jayla Simone Tong
Jillan Glaze
JoAnna Silveus
Julia Williamson
Kaytlin Snodgrass
Lilbeth Rico
Lilliana Valencia
Lucy Ray
Lucy Wilkinson
Macy Moore
Paisley Clark
Rylee Slone
Teagan Alley
Vaughn Ware

2019 Officers Choice Award Winners

Sacred Heart

Nataly DeLeon

Jefferson Elementary

Addison Whitaker
Jaylynn Allison
Kourtney Jaworski
Anna Robertson

Claypool Elementary

Grant Horton
Cameron Mason
Taryn Enochs
Abbie Mark
Emma Landrum
Jailynn Evans
Tanner Drang
Taylor Drang
Ashlyn Borkholder
Madeline Caskeu

Lincoln Elementary

Alexis Miller
Josh Prater
Meribeth Rahn
James Leiter

Eisenhower Elementary

Cohen Heady
Rory Heckaman
Angel Maldonado
Nick Reed
Chayla Wuchter
Allison Hooten
Avery Kintzel
Robinson Hoffert
Kennedy Webber
Jose Torres
Elise Watson
Brooke Aleman

Leesburg Elementary

Ally Anderson
Josue Montoya
Julia Uplinger
Adan Rodriguez
Lillian Chaney

Washington Elementary

Ava Couture
Izzie Jackson
Wyatt Stapleton
Aadya Arora
Aislyn Elliott
Jordance Jamison
Michaela Plummer
Jamison Burnworth
Courtney Lowery
Dalton McNees

Madison Elementary

Kyle Williams
Oliver Nisen
Sydney King
Lauren Wallen
Abby Nicholas
Angela Rico
Jazmin Justice
Koresin Smith
Makia Lucas
Carter Escapule

Harrison Elementary

Tyler Mimnaugh
Brook Winshester
Maritza Tahled
Carson Chizum
Griffin Brow
Reed Nelson