RED RIBBON

ing out anti-bullying information as well. We always want to give an emphasis to the kids to make sure that their future is bright, and one of the ways we do that is making sure they do not become involved in anything that will hinder them from being successful.”

Nichols told the students of some of the risks of drug and alcohol using examples of some of the students he taught in sixth grade Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) getting in trouble for substance use over the years.

“Some of them chose to sell drugs,” Nichols said. “Some of them chose to use drugs. Some of them chose to be aggressive to other people. I just had one of my former students to shoot another man, and he's in jail. He's going to be in jail for a while. I had some of my former students get killed because they made bad choices.”

Nichols told the students the key to being successful was to listen to and respect their parents and teachers.

“They care enough about you to come here every day and teach you,” Nichols said. “If you listen to your teachers and obey your parents, the sky's the limit.”

Shumaker warned students they would be offered drugs and alcohol as they got older, and advised them to refuse it.

“Guys, I want you to understand this,” Shumaker said. “Even if it's a family member or a close friend who's trying to get you to do these things, I want you to remember that every one of you in here today, you are way too valuable to take some drugs or to sell some drugs or to do anything like that.”

The Red Ribbon Campaign was founded in 1988 in memory of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was tortured and killed in the line of duty in 1985.