Pictured, from left, are Christine Rapp, DARE Indiana coordinator; Angel Hochstetler, essay award winner; and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Doug Light, DARE instructor. Photos provided by KCSO.

Press Release

NORTH WEBSTER — The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize and congratulate Wawasee Community Schools student Angel Hochstetler for being selected as the 2024 Indiana DARE essay award winner.

In May, Hochstetler was a fifth-grade student at North Webster Elementary School and graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. Her essay was submitted for nomination by DARE Officer Doug Light.

Members of the DARE Indiana training board reviewed essays from all over the state of Indiana and selected Hochstetler to be this year’s award recipient. Officer Light and Hochstetler’s family traveled to the Indiana Statehouse for DARE Indiana’s annual awards breakfast. Hochstetler received her award and also got to take a tour of the statehouse and even sit at the governor’s desk.

“I’m extremely proud of Angel and all her hard work as a DARE student,” said Light. “Picking a DARE essay winner is not an easy task. There were so many wonderful essays written by the DARE students at North Webster Elementary School but there was just something extra special about Angel’s that stood out to me. It’s an honor and privilege to teach the DARE program at North Webster Elementary School. Thank you to NWES Principal Lee Snider and the fifth-grade teachers for allowing me to make a difference in children’s lives.”

“Angel’s achievement is a testament to her dedication and the incredible effort she put into her DARE essay,” said Snider. “It is so encouraging and exciting to have one of our students recognized at the state level for their hard work and creativity. We are immensely proud of Angel and grateful to Officer Light for his commitment to the DARE program at North Webster Elementary. Angel is a great example of a student who seeks to reach her highest potential and positively impact her community.”

“Angel is a wonderful example of what happens when students take what they learn and use it to create something meaningful,” said Dan Gause, NWES fifth-grade teacher. “Her essay captured the heart of what the DARE program is all about, and we couldn’t be prouder of her. Seeing her celebrated at the statehouse is a moment of pride for our entire school. We’re so happy for Angel and her family.”