BERRIEN SPRINGS — Michigan State Police Niles Post announced that they will graduate youth from their Michigan Youth Leadership Academy at 1 p.m. Thursday, at Howard Performing Arts Center at Andrews University.

The camp is hosted by the Michigan State Police. This year, 23 girls 14 to 15 years of age from Berrien and Cass counties will graduate from the program.

The public is invited to attend the graduation ceremony to share in this celebratory event.  Attendance to the academy is no cost to the participants and is funded through the Byrne JAG grant.  The Meijer Foundation of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lakeland Health, Charlena Berry Professional Services, Andrews University of Berrien Springs, Howard Performing Arts Center at Andrews University, Porky’s Party Place of Cassopolis, Calvin Creek Farms, Cassopolis Fire House Volunteers, and private individuals are also partnering donors to this program.

In order to qualify for the academy, the female students have to live within the Berrien or Cass County areas.  Girls selected are students from Benton Harbor, Benton Harbor Girls Academy, Brandywine, Cassopolis, Coloma, Dowagiac, Eau Claire, Lakeshore, Marcellus, River Valley, and Watervliet schools.  One student is home schooled.

Mentors from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies helped the students learn leadership and mentoring skills, while developing their personal character. The academy offers students a crash course covering various topics, including but not limited to: physical activity, water safety, nutrition, alcohol and drug awareness, gang awareness, domestic violence awareness, first aid, interviewing and job techniques, leadership, and public speaking.  The students also got the chance to tour University of Michigan, the state capitol, and participate in team and character building exercises. 

Students were taken to the Michigan State Police Training Academy, in Lansing, June 24, where they will remain until Thursday. Prior to graduation, the students will perform a community service project at Berrien County Youth Fair in Berrien Springs.  Following graduation, a celebration luncheon coordinated through the Andrews University Dining Services and Porky’s Place will be held. The graduates, their family, and mentors from the MiYLA program are encouraged to partake in the meal.   

The academy was staffed by Lt. Melinda Logan, sergeants DuWayne Robinson and Kim Vetter, troopers Kelly Anderson, Heather Svoboda, and Lulu Ghannam; all MSP personnel.  Deputy Vanessa Williams from Berrien County Sheriff Office, Deputy MaKenzie Kreiner, of Cass County Sheriff Office, and Special Agent Trisha Kovac, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are serving as the local law enforcement partner/staff members. 

The Meijer Foundation of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lakeland Health, Charlena Berry Professional Services, Andrews University of Berrien Springs, Howard Performing Arts Center at Andrews University, Porky’s Party Place of Cassopolis, Calvin Creek Farms, Cassopolis Fire House Volunteers, and private individuals are partnering donors to this program.

More information on MiYLA can be found at: michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-72297_34040_75044-271969–,00.html