PARK RIDE, N.J.—Congratulations to Park Ridge High School grad Julia Manning, the only high school student from New Jersey chosen to be a D.A.R.E. America’s New Jersey Youth Advocacy Board (YAB) representative.
A proclamation from Mayor Keith Misciagna and the Borough Council on June 11 explains that Manning has volunteered and worked tirelessly in connection with the D.A.R.E. program in Park Ridge, providing guidance and support on friendship, anxiety, stress, anti-bullying, and social media safety.
Manning helped D.A.R.E. America launch its new K–12 Anti-Opiod and Over-the-Counter/Rx Drug Abuse Prevention curricula. She was instrumental in working with the Park Ridge Police Department and School Superintendent Dr. Robert Gamper in initiating the new program in Park Ridge.
In a post on the Park Ridge Police Department’s Facebook page, Manning is congratulated by family and friends. One person wrote, “Bravo! Having my best friend’s son (age 21) die from this [opioids]—what a difference and impact you may provide others on this worthy endeavor.”
Another wrote, “We are very lucky to have such a wonderful role model for our children right here in our own town! Thank you for all that you do.”
D.A.R.E., or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is taught in more than 300,000 classrooms in 54 countries and all 50 states. More than 36 million students K–12 are positively impacted by D.A.R.E. each year.
The curriculum helps students recognize and successfully manage stress, evaluate risk-taking behaviors, resist gang pressure, apply effective decision-making skills, and evaluate the consequences of the choices available to them while teaching the skills to make positive decisions and avoid negative behaviors.
Manning attended training in Hawaii and Canada while working with other representatives across the country to bring awareness to drug and alcohol use and abuse within the Park Ridge schools and community.
The proclamation notes that Manning assisted D.A.R.E. officers Greg Santangelo and Kyle Dutcher with the K–2 grade lessons for the new D.A.R.E. curriculum at East Brook and West Ridge Elementary schools.
Moreover, it says, she worked closely with Park Ridge High School teachers and the Park Ridge Police Department “to obtain a commitment and willingness to implement D.A.R.E. program objectives into the high school curriculum … while executing several community and school events to kick off this initiative.
Manning participated in both the D.A.R.E. program and Peer Leadership her sophomore, junior, and senior years—and led in varsity soccer and softball throughout her high school career, holding the position of senior soccer captain and earning Second Team All-League twice and honorable mention in varsity softball.
The proclamation reads in part that the governing body honors Manning for her dedication, training, and assistance for her communication skills and the building of the D.A.R.E. awareness curriculum within the Park Ridge schools and community and for her tireless commitment of time she provided throughout her high school career.
The governing body said it was pleased to extend its certificate of recognition to Manning “as she celebrates this auspicious occasion with her family, peers and friends.”