By Libby Cluett | lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com
GARNER – Civil Air Patrol cadets helped Garner ISD’s middle school students identify qualities in a leader for Red Ribbon Week for a Drug-Free America.
The week is designed to educate America’s students about drug prevention. Students involved with the local CAP conducted a Red Ribbon Week Leadership Academy to help promote a drug-free ethic, while reinforcing leadership skills.
During the afternoon session, cadets conducted a teamwork game as an icebreaker, showed clips of the movie “Invictus” and asked students to identify the Nelson Mandela’s leadership skills as shown in select scenes and addresses servant leadership, among many other topics.
Thomas Pophin pointed out that when Mandela, played by Morgan Freeman, invited rugby captain François Pienaar, played by Matt Damon, to tea, the host – then leader of South Africa – was humble, polite, informed and was a visionary.
“As middle schoolers, you might not have the same challenges as Nelson Mandela, but you could use the same leadership skills,” Pophin told his Garner audience.
The cadets, including Garner’s own Cort Beynon, reinforced their our core values – integrity, service and putting others need before your own, excellence and respect – as an example for their audience and as a step in the path toward a drug-free America.
Also on Thursday, Garner students in all grades also had the opportunity to wear hats – normally not allowed under the dress code – and not just hats, but crazy hats, if so desired. Throughout the week on area campuses students got the chance to dress a little differently and, hopefully, learn about what role they can play in creating a drug-free America.