They came five and a-half months ago. Many on drugs, all failing academically either on the verge of dropping out or had already. But they recognized that something had to change. So they came to the highly structured quasi military environment of this special magnet high school in Bend. On Wednesday, 125 youth age 16 through 19 were honored for their successful efforts to change their lives at graduation ceremonies at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond.

Governor Ted Kulongowski congratulated the graduates and called it a "day of celebration". He said they had found "new self respect and a solid foundation for a new life."