The Selma Times-Journal

Sixth grade students at the School of Discovery were honored on Monday for their completion of the All Stars Personal Commitment program, a project of the Selma-Dallas Prevention Collaborative (SDPC).

“This program is designed to equip students with prevention skills on how to say no to drugs and alcohol when that temptation comes,” said Coley Chestnut, SDPC project director. Chestnut, a member of the City of Selma Board of Education, added the All Stars program encourages students to make a serious commitment to a drug free lifestyle.

All Star participants in Joy Hobson and Ivery Williams’ sixth grade classes will be presented with certificates outlining their personal commitment in nine categories – ideals, citizenship, violence, alcohol, drunk, tobacco, inhalants, drugs and friendship.

“My commitment was to stay in school and not do drugs,” said student Devonta Cleveland, 12.

“My commitment is to stay drug free and get a good education,” said student Jurni Owden, 11.

“My commitment is to stay drug free so I can follow my dreams when I grow up,” said student Breante Moore, 13.

All Star program facilitator Mabel Reddick has helped these students mold and develop their commitments for the past 14 weeks. Reddick said it is her hope and desire that the students are able to live up to the commitments they made.

“(This program) is designed to give students an opportunity to think about the futures they want and the futures they don’t want,” she said.

Following a brief ceremony in J.A. Pickard Auditorium, the students migrated outside to the school field, where they released red and purple balloons that contained their personal commitments. On the count of three they released the balloons to the sky and exclaimed with excitement, “All Stars!”

Chestnut said the All Star program is in its first year and will be implemented in city and county schools. The program will be available during the 2007-2008 academic year at Selma Middle CHAT Academy, Martin Middle School, Tipton Middle School and Keith High School.

For more information, call 334-877-0786 or e-mail .