More than 100 students statewide are ready to celebrate a major academic achievement. Wednesday, July 31st, students with the Department of Juvenile Justice who earned their GED or High School Diploma over the past school year will don their caps and gowns in a traditional graduation ceremony.

Graduation will start at 10 a.m. outside the Bill Rogers Community Connections Center at the Broad River Road Complex (4900 Broad River Road, Columbia).

"Many of the youth who come here to DJJ never expected or intended to finish high school," explains DJJ Director Freddie B. Pough. "We're here to change that mentality. A quality education opens up so many opportunities. We want to show our students as many of those opportunities as possible and then empower them to pursue a happy, productive life using the knowledge and skills obtained here."

The number of students graduating is down compared to the past two years. That's largely due to nearly two-thirds of DJJ's student population currently being in 8th or 9th grade. A younger overall student population has also created an exciting opportunity, as more agency-involved youth than ever are now on track to earn their high school diploma.