BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Eight fifth graders were recognized by DARE Program Officer McConnell for their outstanding essays and one for his commitment to helping others during the January 2020 board of education meeting.
“They put a whole lot of hard work into this. I just wish everybody could read the essays that these kids wrote this year. I’d also want to recognize Mr. McConnell. He’s done a lot of work putting this program on,” stated Union County Schools Police Chief Chad Deyton.
“It was a big, big honor to teach this class. Kids seem like the learned a lot this year. I’ve got fourth graders already asking, ‘when is DARE going to start for us?’” explained McConnell, “We’ve got the essay winners, we’ll do them first, then we did something new this year, the DAREN winner.”
Union County Elementary has 210 fifth grade students, and McConnell chose one winner from each class, plus one overall winner.
The winners were Makenzie B., Paxton H., Lyndsey H., Michelle L., Andrew N., Pierson P., Lily, T., and Jackson T.
Jackson won the overall prize and read his essay aloud to the room, “For some of us, trying drugs could end up in a life out of control. Each one of us probably knows someone who is an addict and have seen firsthand what horrible consequences this lifestyle carries with it. I have that addictive gene, and I am making that choice not to ever try drugs before I am put in a situation where drugs are making choices for me.”
The DAREN Award represents: D for dedication, A for assertiveness, R for responsibility, E for going the extra mile, and N is for nobleness.
“The teachers [gave] me a student from each one of their classes and all should have been recognized. What we see is someone who is always wanting to help people out, always willing to go the extra mile to help every day, really, really a good young man,” said McConnell before naming Chetley C. the DAREN award winner for 2020.
Fourth grade student Lily B. also received recognized for his art skills. Her picture was chosen for the 2019 school district Christmas card.
Union County High School Principal C.T. Hussion and Assistant Principal Casey Jones recognized Jennifer Ludlum for all her efforts to help students stay in school and success after graduation through the success center.
“She’s poured her heart and soul into it, and it’s made a difference. She’s the reason we’ve had a lot of early graduations,” praised Hussion.
“They don’t just graduate. She gets them jobs. She checks up on them afterwards to make sure they’re going to work. She stays on them. Someone in administration before me said, ‘the key to it is getting the right person in the right place.’ She’s the right person, and she’s in the right place,” said Jones.
Tony Hunter was elected the new board of education chairman from among his peers and Patrick White became vice chair for the term.
Image courtesy of Union County Elementary Facebook page for more DARE photos visit the page.
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