News Release

Warsaw — Warsaw Community Schools proudly hosted the annual D.A.R.E. Graduation and Awards Ceremony last week, recognizing the outstanding efforts and achievements of WCS sixth graders.

“Warsaw Community Schools is so grateful to our local DARE Officers (Roy Navarro and Lewis Fuller) along with the support of the Warsaw Police Department, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and Winona Lake Police.,” said Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “Their commitment to mentor our 6th graders through the D.A.R.E. program creates a life-long impact. Our community wide D.A.R.E. Graduation is the culmination and support of students making positive choices.”

The D.A.R.E. Program continues to recognize outstanding student achievements through its various awards. The Sergeant Terry Polston Award and Sticker Awards are given to deserving students who have demonstrated good citizenship, classroom participation, and kindness. The Essay Award is a competition in the students’ homeroom classes and students write about what D.A.R.E. means to them.

Finally, the Drake Strong Award is given in memory of Drake Price. Drake was an honorary police officer with the Warsaw Police Department. Drake lived by the saying, “If you are not smiling while you’re doing something, you are not doing it right.” This is given to one student in the district and this year’s award winner was Israel Gagnon.

Award Recipients from Claypool:

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Kaden Briedert, Noah Jones, Arya Balbuena-Kline, Kennedy Shilling, Teagan Bailey, Verlyssa Baldridge, Andrea Montillano, Caroline Gudorf, Qwincy Trumble and Kailea Smith

Essay Award: America Alonzo and Qwincy Trumble

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Billie Wells

Sticker Award: Preston Ellis, Billie Wells

Award Recipients From Washington

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Maisy Metz, Landry Fitzgerald, Paige Yocum, Carson Haack, Haddi Hoeppner, Dakotah Coon, Hadley Campbell, Jackson Everitt, Harper Westerhof, Sydney Chandler

Essay Award: Quinn Suissi, Delaney McCammon and Dexter Beck

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Lincoln Rak

Sticker Award: Quinn Suissi, Allison Shaub, Colin Meerzo

Award Recipients From Madison

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Gwendolyn
Serena, Tenley Silveus, Chloe Heckaman, Benjamin Anglin, Jose Cervantes Servin, Devin Poort, Josias Terrazas, Lucille Hankins, Gemma Cox, Anna Jones

Essay Award: Paisley Jarrell, Evan Goshert, David Goble

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Reegan DeManage

Sticker Award: Brielle Patterson, Addison Goon

Award Recipients From Jefferson

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Elijah Robertson, Eli Katris, Santana Hanshoe, Remi Fleming-Maze, Ben Carter, Liam Kitch, Ollie Petersen, Sophia Moore, Henry Schotter, Violet Wonderly

Essay Award: William Green and Serena Klingaman

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Amelia Schotter

Sticker Award: Isadora Vega, Konrad Kolember

Drake Strong Award: Israel Gagnon

Award Recipients from Sacred Heart

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Eddie Sutton, Yamileth Gonzalez, Cecilia Zemen, Cristobal Conde, Nery Alvarado, Jensen Sands, Ximaryra Lopez, Lily Piper

Essay Award: Evelyn Piecuch

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Hunter Poppenfoose

Sticker Award: Laura McCullough

Award Recipients From Eisenhower

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Adalyn Meyer, Araya Zimmerman, Alayna Harrison, Addison Maier, Liam Hill, Jaylen Mitchell, Nora Stewart, Haedyn Chavez, Annalise Stenoish

Essay Award: Adalyn Meyer, Araya
Zimmerman, Alayna Harrison

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Annalise Stenoish

Sticker Award: Annalise Stenoish, Baylee Wieringa and Roosevelt Hoffert

Award Recipients from Lincoln

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Luke Zhao, Adelyn Rennhack, Soledad Smith, Lorelei Powers, Bryttin Wagoner, Haylee Fletcher, Kayaleia Futch, Harmony Boyd, Mason Santamaria, Logan Moore

Essay Award: Luke Zhao, Adelyn Rennhack, Soledad Smith and Lorelei Powers

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Adelyn Rennhack

Sticker Award: Ember Shirley, Adelyn Rennhack, Haylee Fletcher and Margareta Loeb

Award Recipients from Harrison

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Adelyn Reed, Dhanishka Sudarsan, Aliya Williams, Logan Hamstra, Ella Hansen, Emmitt Neely, Elisee Vil, Annaliese Srogi, Chaitrali Chavan and Jai Moody

Essay Award: Adrenna Carlson and Benjamin Maile

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Chaitrali Chavan

Sticker Award: Chaitrali Chavan and Benjamin Maile

Award Recipients from Leesburg:

Sergeant Terry Polston Award: Addysen Miller, Landon Deatsman, Yoselin Tello, Kristian Wilson, Caleb Rodriguez, Emma Selvey, Hudson Neher, Elora Chaney and Kaysia Hogendobler

Essay Award: Addysen Miller, Landon Deatsman and Yoselin Tello

D.A.R.E. Student of the Year: Caleb Rodriguez

Sticker Award: Konner Burgin, Kaysia Hogendobler and Jack Slone