Deputy Ross Porter dances with some of his students from Lake Country Elementary School, where he is the D.A.R.E. officer, after the D.A.R.E. Day Celebration in the South Florida Community College Performing Arts Theatre on Tuesday morning. Fifth grade students from around the county came to SFCC to take part in the anti-drug ceremony.
Jennifer Palmer, a student at Cracker Trail Elementary School, dances during the D.A.R.E. Day Celebration at the SFCC Performing Arts Theatre on Tuesday morning.
Sebring High School cheerleaders Isha Robinson, left, and Taylor Locklear, center, perform for an audience of fifth grade students during the D.A.R.E. Day Celebration on Tuesday.
AVON PARK - Dustin Woods walked into the enthusiastic crowd of elementary students Tuesday morning and asked what do they want to be when they grow up?
The first student responded WWE superstar (professional wrestler), while the second said a nurse in the Air Force, which Woods replied: "thank you, please do that." Teacher and football player were also mentioned.
"These individuals I talked to have goals," said Woods, the guest speaker at the annual D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Day Celebration. "These guys in their life they want to be difference makers. I dare you to be a difference maker in your life. I dare you to be a difference maker because there's two things that it will take for you to achieve to your dreams and be a difference maker – hard work and dedication."
Woods, youth pastor at Grace Bible Church and a football coach at Sebring High School, brought up some famous names: Taylor Swift, Michael Jordan, The Jonas Brothers.
"The reason why I dropped some of those names to you is because these are people that have had a major impact on our culture," Woods said. "You guys have never even seen Michael Jordan play basketball … when he played for the Wizards it didn't count. You guys never saw him play for the Chicago Bulls. You know who he is because he changed the game of basketball.
"Some of the pop stars coming up they are changing the game of the music industry because they had hard work and dedication," he added.
The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Day Celebration was held to mark the occasion of Highlands County fifth-graders committing to be drug free and violence free. The program took place at the acoustically improved South Florida Community College Performing Arts Theatre.
Several high school students from Avon Park, Lake Placid and Sebring participated in some skits that were about underage drinking, staying in school, making decisions and child abuse.
Another skit was a mock drug transaction that was foiled by Highlands County Sheriff's Office deputies with weapons drawn and one of K-9 units standing by.
Some Sebring High students produced a video on bullying that was shown during the program. It ended with the message that if you need somebody to talk to call the We Care Hotline (1-800-486-2358).
The program also included the Sebring High School cheerleaders doing a routine.
Nala Price, the Heartland Idol 12-and-under champion in 2010, sang "I Got the Music in Me" and "Firework."
Keith Campbell and his daughter Khia sang "God Bless the USA."
The band GrooVus performed before and during the event. It was the first time the local band had participated in the celebration.
Larissa Gonzalez of Avon Park High School sang the national anthem and Caitlynn Steffner of Walker Academy led the audience in the pledge of allegiance. The presentation of colors was by the Lake Placid High School JROTC.
Bill Rogers may be reached at 386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com
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