SHERBURNE – Fifth graders in the Sherburne-Earlville School District had a graduation ceremony Monday to celebrate the completion of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program.

Teachers, parents and community members gathered to watch as S-E’s fifth grade class received certificates for completing the DARE program.

“Over the last 12 weeks, the students have been working with Deputy Howard to resist drugs, alcohol, peer pressure and violence,” Elementary Assistant Principal John Douchinsky said. “The skills these students have learned over the past 12 weeks will come in handy in the very near future.”

Deputy Eric Howard, who has been heading the program at S-E, took the stage, saying he wanted to honor the fifth graders for their hard work. Howard has been a police officer for the past 29 years and has been participating in the DARE program for 11. “It’s rewarding for the students as well as for me,” he said.