Moreno Valley School Offers A Second Chance

On the afternoon of June 21st, families, friends, and distinguished guest were in attendance to celebrate the accomplishments of Rising Stars Business Academy YouthBuild class of 2014. The graduate class was comprised of students who struggled to complete their previous high school career due to various internal and external conflicts that hindered their abilities to finish. Rising Stars Business Academy YouthBuild (RSBA) in partnership with the WASC-Accredited YouthBuild Charter School of California (YCSC) has encouraged and supported these students to complete their high school diploma. The organization's website shares, “Rising Stars Business Academy (RSBA) is committed to giving students a second chance. Many of our students come from disenfranchised backgrounds, credit deficiency or are considered ‘at-risk’ youth… In preparing our students to achieve their High School Diploma, we will prepare them for the Real World, including Business, Entrepreneurship and Post-Secondary Education.”. Lincoln Berridge a counselor and student mentor mentioned that RSBA, “students receive a high school diploma and not a G.E.D.” Students can move on to careers and or higher education that often require them to have a HS diplomas. “This school is great,” says Benjamin Guzman, a RSBA graduate who attended for two years. He further states, “I got to this point late. I was supposed to graduate in 2012 but thanks to this school I was able to graduate today… I’m glad I didn’t pass my old high school and came here because I learned things that are going to help me in the future. The teachers here care and work with you one by one and when you fall behind, they work with you to catch up. They (teachers, counselors and mentors) do a lot for you… and thanks to this school I am motivated to go to college and receive a higher and better education.” Benjamin plans to attend the University of California Riverside and eventually the University of Southern California to fulfill his dream of becoming a computer engineer. Lincoln Berridge gave a statement after the ceremony, “These kids have to be encouraged more. We are in a community where these kids are being disappointed so much and people have given up on them. Not just from an educational standpoint but from a family standpoint. As you can see, if you take the time to work with them and love them a little bit, the outcome is good. They graduate and they become good citizens in the community. Our philosophy is we are not trying to compete with anybody. We love Moreno Valley School District and Dr. White; we are very strong supporters of her and what they do. We are all on the same page. From a community standpoint we are just trying to encourage kids and build them up and let them know that they can be successful, that they can achieve the goals that they have set, that they can get their diploma and regardless of what people are saying to them, they can make those achievements.” Actor Noel G., a good friend of Alicia Berridge (CEO and Founder of RSBA) and Lincoln Berridge (Counselor) attended the graduation to share some powerful words of encouragement to the class of 2014. He shared the story of how he became an actor and challenged the class to keep chasing their dreams. 73 wonderful students graduated because of their perseverance and support from the partnerships of The Rising Stars Business Academy YouthBuild and YouthBuild Charter School of California. They were full of life and energy on this day. They cheered and were ecstatic the entirety of the ceremony. They have overcome a great accomplishment. Congrats class of 2014.