In the presence of local city dignitaries, law enforcement personnel, proud family and friends, C.A.R.T Academy 2018 Class 1 graduated with honors. May 22nd marked the end of a grueling 16-week period which included the breaking down of attitudes, walls, and strongholds in local teens. It was also a time of building. New mind sets, new respect for authority, as well as new relationships and a new sense of self-worth.
The participants were enrolled in the program as a result of poor choices and negative behavior. Some were mandated through court order to complete the program in lieu of further consequences, others were enrolled as an intervention before heading further down a path of destruction. Still others set out to prove something to themselves and it was successfully accomplished.
The C.A.R.T. (Colton at Risk Teens) Academy is designed to introduce at-risk youth to discipline, guidance, and career development. The programs are a collaborative effort between law enforcement and community-based organizations, with law enforcement being the facilitators. Students between the ages of 13-17 are immersed in a para-military environment that allows them to be exposed to various levels of mentoring, career development and other topics such as:
· Career Development
· Character Development
· Field trips including Cultural Diversity
· Anger Management
· Self-Respect
· Citizenship
· Career Choices
The program instills discipline, self-esteem, and structure in a student’s life. Success or failure depends directly on the level of commitment and application of each participant and the participant’s family.
The program allows students throughout the CJUSD to become a team during the 16-week course. This particular class was credited as being the most physically fit class to date. It was made up of many athletes from local high schools such as Grand Terrace, Colton, Rialto and San Bernardino. Here is a list of the graduates:
Alaniz, Jacob Colton High School
Alvarado, Diego Colton Middle School
Ayala, Roy Vision Community Day School
Camacho, Marcos Grand Terrace High School
Camacho, Richard Colton High School
Casiano, Joseph Vision Community School
Ceballos, Adrian Rialto High School
Duran, Cloey Terrace Hills Middle School
Espinoza, Alejandro Colton High School
Garcia, Michael Public Safety Academy
Gonzalez, Bobby Terrace Hills Middle School
Harris, Vincent Grand Terrace High School
Lopez, Cesar Colton High School
Macias, Sergio Colton Middle School
Martinez, Joan Joe Baca Middle School
Mejia, William San Andreas High School
Mendez, Victor Indian Springs High School
Merino, Angel Slover High School
Moreno, Luis Colton Middle School
Mosqueda, Joaquin Terrace Hills Middle School
Nunez, Andres Terrace Hills Middle School
Perez, Christian Indian Springs High School
Price, Cheyenne Colton High School
Reyes, Julio Colton Middle School
Ruiz, Alexandro Terrace Hills Middle School
Sanchez, Jeremy Colton Middle School
Sanchez, Eddie Colton High School
Torrero, Jose Colton High School
Torres, Anyssa Washington High School
Vitela-Garcia, Fernando County (Tri-City)
Youssef, Marlene Jehue Middle School
City News Group congratulates the graduates and wishes them much continued success on their path to a bright future as Chaplain Eric Strutz quoted during the ceremony, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
For more information on the C.A.R.T. program, please contact the Colton Police Department C.A.R.T. Staff at (909) 370-5160 or download an application online at coltonpd.org.