“”The La Crosse Police Department announced today that Lilly Ackerman, a 2017 DARE graduate from Southern Bluffs Elementary School in La Crosse, was chosen as the 2017 DARE essay contest winner for the State of Wisconsin. Lydia Hogue from St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Onalaska was the state runner up.
As part of graduating from the DARE program, all students submit an essay detailing their experiences and what they’ve learned as a result of their DARE education.
“DARE is really important because life is going to be full of challenges that may lead me in the wrong direction,” wrote DARE essay contest winner Lilly Ackerman. “The very first day Officer Weaver talked about how to use the DARE decision-making model. By defining a problem, assessing your choices and responding appropriately, then evaluating your response, you put yourself in a better position than you were before.”
Over 500 essays were written by La Crosse students. La Crosse Police Department DARE Officer Kurt Weaver chose and submitted Lilly’s essay to the 2017 Wisconsin DARE Essay Contest. At the State DARE conference, DARE officers from around the state voted on all of the submitted essays, and after the first round of voting, Lilly’s and Lydia’s essays tied for first place. The vote then went to the DARE board of Directors and Lilly’s essay was narrowly chosen the winner.
“We are extremely proud of both of these young ladies, it’s quite an accomplishment,” said La Crosse Police Department DARE Officer Kurt Weaver. “Lilly and Lydia’s essays were chosen as shining examples of content and personal application of the things learned in DARE.”
Their essays will be featured on the Wisconsin DARE website.
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