Pictured, left to right: HCSO SRD Madyson Wood, fifth grade students Emma Paust (second place winner), Cami Dragoo
(first place winner) and Audrey Leonard (third place winner) and Sheriff Austin Garrett
During the inaugural D.A.R.E. Graduation Ceremony at Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences on Tuesday, School Resource Deputy and D.A.R.E. Instructor Madyson Wood announced the school’s 2025 D.A.R.E. essay winners.
As part of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. Program, participating schools host an annual essay contest, inviting students to reflect on what they've learned and how the program has impacted their lives.
This year’s first place was awarded to Cami Dragoo for her "thoughtful and inspiring" essay.
In her essay, she shared how the D.A.R.E. Decision-Making Model has helped her manage her stress, understand that choices and decisions have consequences and the fact that it’s okay to ask for help in life when things times get tough.
In addition to Ms. Dragoo's essay, fifth grade students Emma Paust won second place and Audrey Leonard won third place in the contest.
Read Ms. Dragoo's winning essay
here.
“I am very proud of Cami Dragoo as her essay clearly reflects the positive impact the D.A.R.E. Program has had on her life, showing how it’s helped her learn about the importance of making good decisions and the fact that every choice we make has consequences. The lessons she and her classmates have learned through D.A.R.E. will continue to guide them—no matter their age or the challenges they face in order to make safe, healthy and positive choices. What she has learned reinforces just how important this program is—and why bringing it back into our county’s schools has been such a priority for me,” said Sheriff Austin Garrett.
The HCSO is also hosting a county-wide D.A.R.E. Essay competition to which Ms. Dragoo's essay will be entered with the winning students from other schools where there HCSO’s D.A.R.E. Program is being taught. The winner of this county-wide contest will be announced later this school year once all the programs conclude.