OBES holds DARE graduation cerermony

Photo courtesy of Oriole Beach Elementary OBES DARE essay winner Kayliegh Hollifield with School Resource Officer Donnie Wigan.

CPL. Donnie Wigen of the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office has been 'Officer Donnie' the OBE Resource Officer at Oriole Beach Elementary School, for the past year.

The school had their first D.A.R.E. Graduation on January 5 under his watch. The students were excited and eager to listen to all the classes concerning alcohol, drugs, smoking, and how their personal decisions and choices can make a difference.

The discussion also included a talk about violence and good versus bad peer pressure. At the end of the last lesson, each student writes an essay detailing what he or she has learned. Officer Donnie confides if you could read these essays it would make you a very proud.

Each fifth grade class has an individual winner, which will receive a gold "D.A.R.E. medallion." The overall OBE school winner this year was Kaliegh Hollifield, she will receive her medallion and a trophy. Several other prizes were given out during the Graduation Ceremony.

The graduation ceremony included VIP guest speakers Sherry Diamond, Warren Stevens OBE's principals and assistant principals, respectfully.

A motivational speaker Bob Murphy, from the Studer Group, and Sheriff Wendell Hall who also advised the students to continue to make good choices a lifetime mission. "The program could not be a success without the backing and recognition of some very involved fifth grade teachers; Ms. Broach, Ms. Carson, Ms. Godfrey, Ms. Leininger and Ms. Rufo," stated Officer Donnie.

"As the new D.A.R.E. Instructor for the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office it has been my pleasure to work with the fine people at OBE and I am very proud of all the students who participated in the D.A.R.E. program," commented Officer Donnie.