Julia Manning, D.A.R.E. America’s 2019 Louis “Skip” Miller National Scholarship Recipient

Each year, D.A.R.E. America awards one member of its Youth Advocacy Board a $20,000 college scholarship. This year, New Jersey Youth Advocacy Board (YAB) member Julia Manning was named the recipient of the 2019 D.A.R.E. America Louis ‘Skip’ Miller National Scholarship recipient.

During her acceptance speech to over 500 attendees at the Annual International D.A.R.E. Training Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Julia stated, “My life changed for the better once I was selected to be the New Jersey Youth Advocacy Board member. D.A.R.E. has provided and reinforced many of the leadership skills I possess today.”

During her three years as a YAB, some of the many projects she completed included:

• Implementing D.A.R.E. at the middle school and high school levels;
• Implementing the K-12 opioid drug abuse prevention lesson program;
• Creating PSA videos about the dangers of opioids;
• Conducting DWI reenactments at her school before prom and graduation;
• Having recovering addicts speak to the health classes about their struggle with addiction and how they have sought help;
• Helping Park Ridge Police Department bring the “NOT EVEN ONCE” programs to the junior health students. This program educates students on the dangers of opiates;
• Speaking at the 5th grade D.A.R.E. graduations in her town; and
• Participating in local town events such as; “coffee with a cop”, Back to “scoop” night, Elks “walk out on drugs”, and speaking to the middle school and underclassman about her experience with D.A.R.E.

“I am grateful that D.A.R.E. has given me the opportunity to travel the world and develop more skills while learning and meeting new people. D.A.R.E. taught me to live and lead a healthy lifestyle by resisting drug and alcohol abuse and violence, as well as giving me the strength and motivation to reinforce these lifestyle choices in others,” stated Julia as her closing message to her fellow YABs and all in attendance.