McKenna Willis participated in the main curriculum of the police department’s D.A.R.E. Program last spring and completed her D.A.R.E. essay along with her fellow fifth grade students.
Every fifth grade D.A.R.E. student who has participated in the program since 1988 has been asked to write a D.A.R.E. essay where they list information such as what they learned, their favorite part of the program, and their commitment to stay drug-free. The police department is then able to choose just one D.A.R.E. essay to represent Munster each year (from the hundreds of essays received from the fifth graders at the five elementary schools) which is submitted to D.A.R.E. Indiana to be judged against essays submitted by D.A.R.E. officers from all over the state.
In December, Willis’ essay was subsequently chosen as the best D.A.R.E. essay in the state and her prizes included a plaque and $100 gift card from D.A.R.E. Indiana. Congratulations to McKenna Willis for receiving this great honor and thank you to the many sponsors and supporters of the Munster Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Program who have helped to keep the program going strong in Munster for over 30 years.