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Hillsdale Elementary School fifth-graders made a pledge to their family and teachers to say no to drugs during their graduation from D.A.R.E. on Friday. 

Students from Beth Conner's and Jamie McDaniel's classes each stood up on the stage in the school's gymnasium to accept their certificates and read a portion of the essay they wrote.

The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) classes have been taught at the school throughout the past nine years by Paola Police officer Dana Abbott.

Abbott commended the students on their dedication to the classes, and she said she can always recognize Hillsdale students once they get into high school.

Paola High School senior Bailey Buchmann spoke to the students about her experience of saying no to drugs and the importance of finding supportive role models.

"Officer Abbott and I are still really good friends," she said.

Students entertained the crowd by performing a skit written by Conner, with the overall theme being say no to drugs.

Winners of the essay contest, Paul Copeland and Erin Welch, each read their essays to the gathering of family members and teachers.

Welch got a chuckle from the crowd when she proudly states she only plans to drink alcohol on her wedding day when she is 25 or older.

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