GBES students graduate from DARE program

Submitted Photo Alex Lincoln (back, second from left) with Kierstan Tatro and the recent DARE graduates.

Fifth graders at Gulf Breeze Elementary School celebrated graduating from the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program on January 12. The ceremony was led by school resource officer Kerstan Tatro.

For the last five years, Tatro has taught fifth graders how to say no to drugs and avoid situations where drugs may be present. The program also teaches the kids about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and peer pressure.

Guest speaker Alex Lincoln who is the Director of Athletic Performance for the Andrews Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, gave an uplifting speech about setting goals for yourself and striving for them. Lincoln is a former football player for Auburn University and the San Francisco 49ers.

Each student completed an essay on what they had learned in DARE and how it would be beneficial to them both now and in middle and high school. A winner was chosen from each class and an overall fifth grade winner was selected from those essays.

Emma Reynolds, Holly Culver, Tristen Hicks, Pierce Broscious, David Alverson, and Helena Rivera were the classroom winners.

Submitted Photo Essay winners (from left): Pierce Broscious, Tristan Hicks, Holly Culver, Helena Rivera, David Alverson and Emma Reynolds.

Pierce Broscious took the top spot, earning him a host of DARE gear including a soccer ball, sweatshirt, duffel bag and passes to the Breeze Cinemas.

Submitted Photo Holly Culver reads her essay as GBES Resource Officer Kerstan Tatro looks on.