WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-La Crosse 5th Grader Receives State DARE Honor

La Crosse 5th Grader Receives State DARE Honor

Sam Lindner, a fifth grader from Southern Bluffs Elementary School in La Crosse, was recently chosen as one of five statewide winners of the annual D.A.R.E. essay contest.

Lindner's essay, My D.A.R.E. Stand, was chosen from 15 finalist and hundreds of essays from individual classrooms throughout the state.

The essay contest is part of the annual D.A.R.E. Officer Training that took place in Glendale, WI this past week. As part of the D.A.R.E. curriculum, fifth grade students write an essay which includes how they feel about the program, what they have learned that can help them stay drug free, avoid violence, and why they think it is important. At the end of their essay they write their pledge statement, which is their commitment to make wise decisions about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

"D.A.R.E. provides valuable life skills and lessons for our students," states Southern Bluffs Principal Mary Lin Wershofen. "It's exciting to have one of our students recognized as a statewide winner for their efforts, and it speaks to the excellent work that our police officers and teachers do in the classroom with the D.A.R.E. curriculum."

"I think the most valuable thing about D.A.R.E. is that it allows kids to think about the type of decisions they are going to make before they are forced to make the decision," Wershofen added.

"The DARE program has been a cornerstone of the community policing program for more than 20 years in the La Crosse Police Department," added Captain Robert Abraham of the La Crosse Police Department.

For his efforts, Lindner received a D.A.R.E. duffle bag filled with school supplies and other prizes.