U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Gutierrez, commandant of Sunburst Youth Academy, delivers opening remarks during the dedication ceremony. 
Sunburst Youth Academy cadets perform a drill team presentation in the courtyard outside the schoolhouse. 
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, retired U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Sarah Rambo and U.S. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Lynn Williams observe a drill team presentation by Sunburst Youth Academy cadets. 
Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean speaks during the dedication ceremony for the Grace F. Napolitano Outdoor Learning Center at Sunburst Youth Academy. 
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers presents a medal to retired U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano. 
Attendees view the unveiling of a commemorative plaque honoring retired U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano at Sunburst Youth Academy. 
Retired U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano and Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Grace F. Napolitano Outdoor Learning Center at Sunburst Youth Academy.
Quick look: Sunburst Youth Academy dedicated a new outdoor learning center in honor of retired Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, recognizing her decades of advocacy for at-promise youth. The $500,000 project was funded in partnership with OCDE, the California National Guard and Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos.
Sunburst Youth Academy debuted more than a new outdoor learning space on Friday — it unveiled a lasting symbol of opportunity and second chances, named in honor of a lawmaker who spent her career fighting to make both possible.
With flags waving and cadets standing at attention, the academy hosted a VIP-packed dedication ceremony for the Congresswoman Grace Napolitano Outdoor Learning Center, a $500,000 capital project that transformed an open lot outside the schoolhouse into a functional outdoor learning space.
The paved area, located at Sunburst, on the grounds of Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, features permanent shade coverings and hardscaped surfaces, creating a flexible space for instruction, leadership training and group learning. Weather-resistant tables are expected to be installed soon.
“This space represents her belief in whole child education — supporting the academic, emotional and personal growth of every cadet,” said Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean. “It’s more than a structure. It’s a symbol of healing, of resilience and opportunity. Congresswoman Napolitano’s legacy will live on in the lives of the cadets who learn and grow here for years to come.”
Sunburst Youth Academy is one of four National Guard Youth ChalleNGe programs in California and is operated jointly by the Orange County Department of Education and the California National Guard, which funded the project along with Joint Forces Training Base.
The tuition-free, military-style residential high school serves students ages 15 to 18 who are behind in school credits and need a structured, supportive environment to succeed. Since launching in 2008, Sunburst has helped more than 5,000 students get back on track academically while developing leadership and life skills.
Local and state leaders
Friday’s ceremony, held in the sun-splashed courtyard outside the schoolhouse, featured military precision from Sunburst’s color guard and an audience of local dignitaries, including U.S. Representative Derek Tran, State Senator Bob Archuleta, Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Los Alamitos Mayor Shelley Hasselbrink.
Representatives from the offices of Congressman Gilbert Cisneros, State Senator Tony Strickland, Assemblymember Tri Ta and others were also present, along with high-ranking officials from the California National Guard and OCDE leaders.
Joining Dr. Bean among the featured speakers was Major General Matthew P. Beevers, the adjutant general of California — and the highest-ranking officer in the California National Guard.
“In California alone, Congresswoman Napolitano has changed the trajectory of 20,000 young lives,” Beevers said. “She made an extraordinary commitment at a decisive moment in these kids’ lives — to lift them up, to change how they view the world and themselves, and to help them make a lasting impact.”
Champion for opportunity
Beevers credited Napolitano’s leadership with helping to increase federal funding for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program from $20 million to $210 million, with nearly $30 million directed to California’s four academies. She also championed legislation that has allowed National Guard facilities to be repurposed for educational use, making program expansion more cost-effective and accessible.
Napolitano, who retired in January after serving 25 years in Congress, was joined by family members and longtime supporters as she addressed the crowd and reflected on her career.
“I couldn’t be prouder to receive this honor — just for doing a job,” she said.
“I just want to be sure that we understand that this program is successful because of the people who supported it,” she added. “And I’ve been successful because of the people that helped me in Washington. I didn’t do things alone.”
Order of California
Born in Brownsville, Texas, in 1936, Napolitano began her public service in local government before being elected to the California State Assembly in 1992 and to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998. In Congress, she was known for her bipartisan leadership on youth development, mental health and public infrastructure. She co-founded the Congressional Youth ChalleNGe Caucus in 2010.
As part of the ceremony, Major General Beevers presented Napolitano with the Order of California, the highest honor awarded by the California Military Department. The formal commendation, issued by direction of the Governor, recognized her 26 years of distinguished service and support for the department and its youth programs.
“Thanks to her, Sunburst is not just a school,” Dr. Bean said. “It’s a second chance. It’s a launch pad. It’s hope.”
For more information about Sunburst Youth Academy, visit www.sunburstyouthacademy.com.