Chapter 78 Salutes Sunburst Academy Class #35 Graduates

By Debra Holm

On June 20, 2025, Chapter 78 Vice President James McLanahan, chapter member Debra Holm, and Allie Lloyd of APEX Service Partners joined proud families and community leaders at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos to celebrate the graduation of Sunburst Youth Academy’s Class 35.

The ceremony honored 171 Southern California teens who completed the academy’s rigorous 22-week residential program, which blends military-style discipline, leadership training, and academic support. Fifteen cadets also earned their high school diplomas—a milestone that just months ago felt out of reach for many.

Chapter 78 began partnering with Sunburst Youth Academy in 2024, welcoming cadets as volunteers at chapter events and finding ways to support their growth. Prior to the graduation ceremony, McLanahan presented the Distinguished Leadership, Education, and Training Award to Cadet Uriel Espinoza, recognizing his scholastic excellence and leadership.

Fifteen members of Sunburst Youth Academy’s Class 35 graduated with high school diplomas — a milestone they achieved in just 22 weeks through the academy’s intensive residential program.

Cadet Uriel Espinoza was awarded Chapter 78's Distinguished Leadership, Education, and Training Award for his scholastic achievement and leadership.

Cadet Uriel Espinoza

SFA Chapter 78 James McLanahan met with Starburst Youth Academy Deputy Director, CW3 Ashley Medina and Starburst Youth Academy Foundation CEO Justine Makoff prior to the ceremony.

Starburst Youth Academy Color Guard included Cadet Navaro keeping time with his snare drum.

Overcoming Fear and Finding Strength

Graduation was more than a ceremony; it was the culmination of months of growth. Many cadets shared powerful reflections about their journeys.

Sunburst Youth Academy Class 35 Class President Cadet Makhy Allen

Class President Cadet Makhy Allen recalled his first week at Sunburst:

“We were taken to a ropes course with the lesson of the day to overcome your fear. I’m not gonna’ lie to you. I got up there, looked down and thought to myself, ‘naahh.’ But with the encouragement of my fellow cadets, I completed it.”

Cadet Brianna Garcia, the Graduate Speaker for the ceremony, proudly displays her high school diploma.

Cadet Brianna Garcia, wearing a purple cap and gown, spoke about defying expectations after years of instability:

“I bounced through four different high schools before dropping out completely after being told by a school administrator that I would never graduate. What no one knew—not even me—was that I still had a spark. I just needed the right place to help me find it.”

Garcia went on to earn her diploma, serve as class vice president, and win a $5,000 grant to launch a small business.

Cadet Isabelle Arroyo Greene was recognized as the academy’s top student leader.

For Cadet 1st Sgt. Issabelle Arroyo Greene, motivation came from family:

“I had no motivation toward my future. When my five-year-old sister asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I knew I needed to make a change. She was my reason to dig myself out of the hole I created and challenge myself to something I had never experienced before.”

Arroyo Greene rose through the ranks to become the class’s top student leader. Reflecting on the journey, she told her classmates:

“It was a tough and tiresome process to get to where we are now, but we got through it together. We’ve gone from being the cracks in the concrete to the flowers that bloom through them.”

The Sunburst Youth Academy Class 35 Recap video was filmed, edited, and produced by the Class 35 Student Media Team.

Chapter VP James McLanahan with Sunburst Youth Academy Foundation Board of Directors. From left to right, Sedric Hill, Marylou Vachet, Sunburst Youth Academy Program Director LTC Sarah Rambo, Justine Makoff, CEO of the Sunburst Youth Academy Foundation, the Foundation's CFO Jillian Scott, and Phillip Tingirides.

A mother and sister of a graduating cadet spoke of the programs support for families to help promote a change in the home environment.

Cadets excitedly filing into the theater at the start of the ceremony.

A Shared Mission

Sunburst Youth Academy, a partnership between the California National Guard and the Orange County Department of Education, offers teens facing academic setbacks and personal challenges a chance to reset their paths. The program’s impact is profound—on graduation day, cadets leave with new confidence, life skills, and plans for the future, whether college, military service, or careers.

For Chapter 78, supporting these young men and women is an honor. The chapter looks forward to continuing this relationship as the academy welcomes its next class.