USD 490 fifth graders attended a ceremony at the Performing Arts Center on Mar. 9, 2026, to celebrate the completion of the eight-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program and essay contest winners.
The D.A.R.E. program was started by a Los Angeles, California police officer to teach fifth graders how to recognize drugs and provide information on the harm they can cause as an early intervention strategy. Today’s program has evolved to provide students with the tools to make better choices in every aspect of life.
School Resource and D.A.R.E. Officer Jason Lowery opened the ceremony by explaining to families in attendance what the program entails and congratulating the students.
“They did a great job doing what they needed to do and putting the work in,” Lowery said.
He emphasized to parents that students do better when they feel supported at home and that caregivers are the primary role models.
“It starts with you guys,” Lowery said.
El Dorado Police Chief Mike Holton spoke to students about accountability and leadership, reminding them the lessons they learned in the D.A.R.E. program are life lessons that will help them make better decisions in life.
“As you leave here today, I want you to think of yourselves as leaders,” Holton said. He encouraged them to not only use what they learned, but to share it with their friends as well.
The culmination project for D.A.R.E. is an essay that summarizes what students learned or appreciated most about the program. A winner and three runners-up were selected from each school.
Blackmore’s winner was Welles Locke. Runners-up included Kynlee Harder, Thana Mosher, and Uriela Gomez-Diaz.
Grandview’s winner was Emery McVay. Runners-up included Katie Lechtenberg, Jack Cogan, and Amelia Rush.
Skelly’s winner was Raylynn Boyle. Runners-up included: Cambree Walker, Brooklyn Langshaw, and Tynli Jones.