New School Program Recognizes Students for Excellence

COLTON >> Positive behavior, good grades, and excellent attendance paid off for several Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD) students who participated in the District's recent Tomorrow’s Leaders Program. In fact, one Grand Terrace High School student even got a brand new car, courtesy of Rotolo Chevrolet. Junior Travis Ramirez Sebree was among five students called up from a crowd in the stands at Colton High School. All five got to pick an envelope. When Sebree opened his, he discovered that he was the winner of a beautiful new Chevrolet Spark. There were several other winners, as well. The other four students who were called for a chance to win the car each received $100. Others won amazing prizes such as televisions, cameras, GoPros, iPads, video game consoles, scholarships, and more. This is the first year CJUSD has held this new recognition program, open to students enrolled in any CJUSD high school (excluding Independent Study students). The program is an incentive to improve student performance, reinforce appropriate behaviors, and prepare students to be responsible members of the future work force. This is the first CJUSD Tomorrow’s Leaders event, which is patterned after similar programs in neighboring communities, such as the City of Fontana and communities in the High Desert. It is made possible through partnerships with businesses like Rotolo and Inland Valley Educators Insurance, as well as the Student Services Foundation of the Colton Joint Unified School District. “Education is a continuous learning experience and the district is working with community partners to recognize and reward the actions, conduct, and deeds of our students that are displayed by 'Tomorrow’s Leaders," said Christy Padilla, Student Services Coordinator/CWA.