The South Shore Press was on the scene for yet another Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Ambassador Program graduation on Wednesday, April 2nd, this time at Central Islip High School.
The program's mission is to stress public safety, promote trust for local law enforcement, and to warn adolescents against falling susceptible to the slippery-slope rotten influences society often throws their way.
Two students received $500 scholarships from Suffolk Credit Union at the library-held ceremony: Keilyn Mieses Mariano and Cristal Hernandez.
Criminal Justice teacher Gregory Alpers holds much reverence for some of his students who spend their free time being fast-tracked on the real-estate paralegal track at Islandia law firms, volunteering at the local ambulance and fire department and so forth.
He and his fellow Central Islip educators are proud to say and see many of the student ambassadors don't just listen to the Sheriff's teachings; they heed his accredited call to action with real-world application as well.
According to Alpers, the Student Ambassadorship Program is the revival of a similar experiment that fizzled a few years prior because it required students to miss too many classes.
Now, the Sheriff and company slide perfectly into the classroom coursework without a single C.I. Buccaneer missing a beat.
“A lot of them have an interest,” Alpers told the South Shore Press. “If you want to have a career in criminal justice, you have to know how it all works.”
Enter: The Sheriff, who spoke to student-participants in the same manner he did with Patchogue-Medford student ambassadors back in February.
“I hope it was productive and that you got something out of it,” Toulon said. “Whether it was just one class, or one word, or one thing of encouragement."
"Never give up on yourselves. Whatever you want to do, do it. Don’t let any negative forces around you drag you down. Don’t hang out with people who may not be where you want to be. Don’t be afraid to help people. And just remember: we’re your friends.”