Approximately 300 fifth-grade students were commended Thursday morning while receiving graduation certificates during a special Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) graduation ceremony held at Lincoln Central Academy.

The drug abuse prevention education program is designed to equip students with knowledge about drug abuse, the consequences of abuse, and skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sam Smiley, who serves as the D.A.R.E. instructor, praised the students for working hard and learning about communication, respect, how to make wise decisions and taking responsibility. Smiley presented a certificate to each fifth-grade student from Unity, Highland Rim, Blanche and Flintville schools. Each of the kids wrote an essay and participated in class. “There is an award winner from each classroom,” he said.

Sheriff Tull Malone spoke to the students as well, and thanked them for their participation, for learning about respecting others and having a willingness to grow. Malone stated that D.A.R.E. is a great program where students learn that choices matter and kids learn to deal with peer pressure. He thanked Deputy Smiley, “for his commitment to helping kids and creating a positive learning environment” and congratulated the D.A.R.E. graduates and the teachers.