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Groundbreaking Education Options Transform Student Lives

System-Involved Youth Find Hope and Build a Pathway to Success

Graduates in caps and gowns

Nine students from El Centro have earned their Associate of Arts for transfer degree in Sociology through Lake Tahoe Community College’s Rising Scholars Program. All graduates are invited to celebrate their achievement at an on-campus graduation ceremony at LTCC’s majestic campus upon coursework completion.

The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is breaking new ground by providing system-involved youth with transformative education opportunities through its Juvenile Court School Program. Among these initiatives, the Rising Scholars Program at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) empowers students to earn an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, offering both hope and a pathway to personal success.

El Centro Jr./Sr. High School, located in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility, hosted its fourth Rising Scholars graduation ceremony on October 9, 2024. Family members, school staff, LTCC representatives, and probation partners gathered to celebrate two students who reached a major educational milestone despite challenges.

Since the Rising Scholars Program’s inaugural graduation ceremony in April 2023, nine students have earned their AA for transfer degree in sociology. This achievement is a testament to the students’ dedication and SCOE’s commitment to changing lives through education in partnership with the Sacramento County Probation Department. Of the nine students, two transferred to the Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp (PGYCC) in Amador County and completed their AA.

“The SOAR College Program at El Centro Jr./Sr. High School has given our students hope and belief that a brighter future is possible,” said Principal Barbara Modlin. “Some students doubted they would graduate high school, and now they are college graduates, breaking generational cycles, and inspiring change for themselves, their families, and their communities.”

The impact of SOAR and LTCC’s Rising Scholars Program prevails with four graduates now pursuing their Bachelor of Arts degrees at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) and one now attending Cal State East Bay (CSEB), all through the Project Rebound Program. Two have secured full-time positions with the US Forest Service, and one has joined the Laborer’s Union through Northern California Construction Training (NCCT). One student will join UC Davis for the Winter 2025 session through the Underground Scholars Program, designed to support system-involved individuals.

SCOE and its partners—through the Rising Scholars Program, Project Rebound, and Underground Scholars—offer system-involved youth a dynamic pathway to academic and personal growth, empowering them to rebuild their lives and inspire others in their communities.