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On Tuesday, April 16, the fifth-grade class of the Jefferson Davis Academy (JDA) in Blackville graduated from Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), an anti-drug education program.
The DARE program is 10 weeks long and involves education on drugs, alcohol and violence. At the April 16 ceremony, 15 students graduated from the program. It was the first time in nearly 30 years that JDA had hosted the DARE program.
“They learned so many things,” said Lisa Carrigg, Barnwell County Sheriff's Office deputy who led the program. “How to identify certain drugs, effects on your health, how to identify stress, how to deal with stress, how to make decisions. Some of these things are never taught at home.”
The students met once a week with Carrigg and learned about the differences between drugs and their effect on human health. At the graduation, the 15 students were presented with certificates, with parents and other loved ones in attendance. Carrigg and Barnwell County Sheriff Steven Griffith shook hands with the graduates.
“They were receptive and had a good time,” said Carrigg of the students who graduated from the program. “They had a good time coming out of their shells and just being able to have a discussion.”
The students who graduated were Vincent Martinez, Asher Perella, Ashlee All, Aubrey Croft, Hensley Collins, MJ Proctor, Eme Crouch, Deklin Grubbs, Holicyn Stoudmire, Olivia Smith, Savannah Carrigg, Paisley Gleaton, Colten Breland, Breanna Carroll and Bryson Myers.
“Hopefully they’ll take these lessons and it’ll follow them for the rest of their lives,” said Griffith. “Hopefully it will guide them and think about their actions before they take them.”
Elijah de Castro is a Report for America corps member who writes about rural communities like Allendale and Barnwell counties for The People-Sentinel. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep Elijah writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.
