Sunburst cadets celebrate with hugs and high-fives after graduating from the five-month residential program in Los Alamitos. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean addresses Class No. 35 during the Sunburst Youth Academy commencement ceremony on June 20 at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
Sunburst Youth Academy cadets present the colors during Friday’s commencement ceremony at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
“Today, we don’t just mark the end of a chapter,” Sunburst Principal Dinah Ismail told graduates. “We celebrate the launch of a brand new story.” (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
Fifteen cadets from Sunburst Youth Academy’s 30th class stand together in their caps and gowns after completing the 22-week residential program run by the California National Guard in partnership with OCDE. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
Congressman Derek Tran takes the stage at the Sunburst Youth Academy ceremony, acknowledging former U.S. Representative Grace F. Napolitano for her steadfast support of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
Cadet First Sergeant Issabelle Arroyo reflected on the journey that brought her and her peers to this moment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
U.S. Rep. Lou Correa speaks to graduating cadets of Sunburst Youth Academy’s Class 35, commending their perseverance and personal growth. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
Sunburst cadets share a spontaneous moment of joy outside the ceremony on Friday. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman) 
A Sunburst cadet embraces a loved one after the graduation ceremony at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
Quick look: Sunburst Youth Academy, a partnership between the California National Guard and OCDE, celebrated its 35th graduating class on June 20, honoring 171 cadets — including 15 who earned high school diplomas.
For most, if not all, it marked the end of a hard-fought chapter — and the beginning of a new path forward.
On Friday, 171 cadets were recognized during Sunburst Youth Academy’s Class 35 commencement ceremony, celebrating five-and-a-half months of grit, growth and personal transformation. Among them, 15 students crossed the stage not only as program graduates but as newly minted high school diploma holders, a milestone that once felt out of reach.
Held at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, the event drew families, educators, military leaders and elected officials who gathered to honor the resilience of Sunburst’s most recent class and the life-changing program that helped them turn things around.
Sunburst Youth Academy is a partnership between the California National Guard and OCDE that serves students ages 15½ to 18 who are at risk of not graduating from high school. Through a structured, military-style environment, the voluntary program offers academic instruction, mentorship, physical training and life skills development, all with the goal of helping cadets reset their education and reclaim that lives.
Those who earned their diplomas wore purple caps and gowns, while their fellow cadets stood proudly in khaki fatigues. All received certificates of completion, recognizing their full participation in the program and the personal growth that came with it.
Inspirational voices
Following a welcome from Sunburst Program Director Lt. Col. Sarah Rambo, a handful of standout cadets took to the stage to reflect on their experiences. They candidly shared how they had lost their way — and how Sunburst helped them build discipline, grow as leaders and reignite the spark to move forward with purpose.
One of the most powerful and unexpected moments of the morning came from Brigadier General Peter B. Cross, who oversees the California National Guard’s Youth and Community Programs Task Force. Though not originally on the program, the combat veteran said he felt compelled to speak — and he did just that, delivering an inspiring message that urged students to honor their time at Sunburst by staying true to the values they had built.
Taking the stage afterward, Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean joked that it was the first time he’d ever had to follow a brigadier general — and, if he had any say, the last. Then he turned his attention to the cadets, praising their achievements and the perseverance that brought them to this moment.
“Did you know that this class GPA average was 3.8? Let’s give them a round of applause,” the county superintendent said. “Truly remarkable — the tenacity, the resilience, the dedication that you put into making it through this program. … If you haven’t heard it yet, I’m going to tell you, we are proud of you. We are proud of you.”
The program also featured remarks from Congressman Derek Tran of the 45th District and Congressman Lou Correa of the 46th District. Tran and other speakers offered special thanks to former U.S. Representative Grace F. Napolitano, who attended the ceremony and was recognized for her longtime support and advocacy for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program.
Rewriting their futures
The educational component of Sunburst is delivered through OCDE’s ACCESS division, which serves students in alternative, community and correctional education settings. Students who are credit-deficient are provided with a chance to catch up academically while developing leadership, character and real-world skills.
Graduates leave with an action plan to support their next steps, whether returning to high school, enrolling in college or pursuing military or career pathways.
Since its inception in 2008, more than 3,000 young people have graduated from Sunburst Youth Academy — each one carrying a story of struggle, strength and the courage to rewrite their future.
Principal Dinah Ismail was among those who presented diplomas and certificates as families cheered and cadets beamed with pride. Several cadets also received special recognition for academic achievement, physical fitness, leadership and personal growth.
“Can we take a moment to admire how absolutely sharp our cadets look today? A true reflection of the strength, pride and transformation they’ve cultivated over the past 22 weeks,” Ismail said during her remarks. “Today, we don’t just mark the end of a chapter, we celebrate the launch of a brand new story.”