Friday, February 11, 2005
SAINTS STUDENT-ATHLETES GUEST SPEAKERS AT
LUMPKIN COUNTY D.A.R.E. GRADUATION
Dahlonega, Ga. – Senior student-assistant coach Chezley Watson (Gainesville, Ga.) and sophomore pitcher Danielle Rainey (Lawrenceville, Ga.) were the guest speakers today at the Lumpkin County Elementary School D.A.R.E. graduation.
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| Lumpking County Middle School Students Listen as Chezley Watson and Danielle Rainey Speak |
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Over 100 students from five classes gathered in the Lumpkin County Parks and Recreations Gymnasium for the D.A.R.E. graduation ceremony. Watson and Rainey spoke to the children about making good choices in their life and getting involved in activities in the school and community. Watson praised the parents in attendance for their support of the program and for staying active in their child's life. Rainey, a second year elementary education major, emphasized staying in school and choosing a drug free lifestyle to better their education.
Watson was a graduate of East Hall High School and was a four time All-State 1 st Team selection as well as Hall County Player of the Year his junior and senior years. He spent two seasons with the University of Virginia basketball program and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1998. Watson also spent one season at the University of West Georgia and was selected as the Gulf South Conference and NCAA South Region Most Valuable Player. He is currently assisting the 22 nd ranked Saints basketball team as a student assistant and finishing his degree in Sociology.
Rainey is currently a member of the 11 th ranked Saints softball team and was a member of the 2004 Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference regular season and tournament championship team. This past season she compiled a 5-1 overall record, 2.01 ERA, and had 49 strikeouts. A graduate of Central Gwinnett High School, Rainey was a three-time member of the Gwinnett All-County Team and 2001-2002 Scholar Athlete Award winner. In 2001 she was named to the GACA All-State Team and was selected as the 8-AAAA Pitcher of the Year and Gwinnett County Pitcher of the Year. |
| Chezley Watson |
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| Danielle Rainey |
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| Top Essay Writers Receive Awards for their Outstading Writing on Being Drug-Free |
The D.A.R.E. program, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is designed to teach fifth grade students how to live a drug free lifestyle. The program was started in Los Angeles in the 1980's to teach at risk children the dangers of drugs. The D.A.R.E. program is now taught in all 50 states by local law enforcement agencies and emphasizes children learning how to deal with pear pressure, associating with good friends, avoiding bad situations, making healthy decisions, and how to just say “NO”.