Koch Students Graduate from DARE Program

Sixty fifth-graders from Koch Elementary School graduated from the D.A.R.E. program following a semester-long class with Milbank Police Chief Boyd VanVooren. VanVooren has been a D.A.R.E. instructor for 18 years. This year’s senior class at Milbank High School was his debut class in Milbank. “It’s an honor to have come full circle with my first class of students,” VanVooren said.

The 2017 graduation ceremony was conducted May 10, in the school gymnasium. Four students from each class read their drug-free pledge to themselves, their families and friends, and to the D.A.R.E. officials. Students reading their essays were: Joe Schulte, Mya Paysen, Josh Keeton, Breanna Hofer, Rachel Schulte, Aiden Quintanilla, Tayla Ninneman, Jana Carrino, Wyatt Engel, Bridget Korstjens, Bo Brandriet, and Sophia Whitlow.

Students from Ms. Clarice Buhler’s class were: Gabriel Beckman, Madisyn Brandenburger, Sunne DeBoer, Timothy Goehring, Breanna Hofer, Seth Hopper, Kaitlyn Huber, Jacob Johnson, Hope Karels, Joshua Keeton, Uziel Lopez, Mya Paysen, Joe Schulte, Kaden Schweer, Skyler Skoog, Kaja Skovbo, Kynlee Speidel, Nadia Thue, Garrett Tumlinson, and Jaxson Wildung.

Completing the class from Mrs. Janelle Korstjens’ room were: Braydon Bauer, Raul Berrones, Bo Brandriet, Aryianna Butler, Jose Chavez, Isaac Cordell, Wyatt Engel, Adalena Hoeke, Bridget Korstjens, Kaitlyn Krause, Camila Monroy, Abigail Paczkowski, Taylar Pies, Caleb Pillatzki, Caleb Rick, Cailey Sime, Lydia Street, Conner Stricherz, Grant Van Peursem, and Sophia Whitlow.

Graduating from Mrs. Tammy Mielitz’s class were Carter Boerger, Jana Carrino, Anna Dean, Dyson Fahleen, Harmonie Farley, Jairek Frazee, Isaac Graham, Jackson Hausauer, Yareni Montes-Perez, Tayla Ninneman, Aiden Quintanilla, Rylee Schell, Shaylee Schuchard, Rachel Schulte, Brooke Schwagel, Mattison Scott, Braedin Stricherz, Kaylee Torgerson, Ava Wienk, and Hailey Zinter.