San Jose Man Receives Anthony Robinson Award
MOFFETT FIELD – LAWFUEL – Press Release Service – United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan today announced that Adán Lupercio is the recipient of the Anthony Robinson Award. The award is given at the annual Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow (BOLT) Rally, which kicks off the leadership development camp at Camp Mendocino next week. The U.S. Attorney’s Office presents the annual award to the young camper, teen mentor, or adult volunteer who showed the most enthusiasm and leadership at the previous years’ camp. The U.S. Attorney’s Office co-sponsors the annual camp with the California National Guard as part of an educational program against gangs and drugs.
Today’s recipient of the award, Mr. Adán Lupercio, 20, of San Jose, has been involved with the camp as a teen mentor since 2003. An enthusiastic and dedicated true team player, Mr. Lupercio has provided outstanding leadership and assistance to the young campers and adult volunteers. A graduate of Willow Glen High School in San Jose, Mr. Lupercio currently attends Evergreen Valley Community College, where he serves as student body president. Mr. Lupercio is also involved in youth tutoring and crime prevention. This is the second time that Mr. Lupercio has received the Anthony Robinson Award, he previously received the award in 2003 as a teen, and is now receiving it as an adult volunteer.
Formerly known as the DEFY (Drug Education For Youth) Program, the BOLT program is a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office, the California National Guard, the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco, the City of Oakland, the Oakland Police Department, the Contra Costa Housing Authority, the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office, and the City of San Jose. Every year, for the past five years, approximately 175 children between the ages of nine and twelve participate in the year-long program. This rally kicks off the camp, which will begin on July 11 and last through July 20, 2006.
The BOLT program provides alternatives to drugs and gangs by providing youth with activities and programming that will help them later in life.
The program has three phases:
Phase 1 – Education
Site directors from the participating organizations teach a leadership, self-esteem, anti-drug, and anti-gang curriculum. The curriculum was developed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, California National Guard, and the participating youth groups.
Phase II – Camp
Participants will attend the Boys & Girls Club Camp at Camp Mendocino, where they will participate in activities like swimming, arts and crafts, horseback riding, and hiking. Prior to the camp, there is a kick-off rally at Moffett Field, where the U.S. Attorney’s Office presents the Anthony Robinson Award to the most outstanding camper from the previous year.
Phase III – Mentorship
From September to February, participating youth groups and schools continue to meet with their mentors who reinforce the leadership, self-esteem, anti-drug, and anti-gang education. In the past, mentorship events have included visits to the zoo, visits to haunted houses at Halloween, Thanksgiving dinners, talent shows, food drives, career days, and sailing excursions.
The award is named in memory of Anthony Robinson, who devoted his life to working with young people. The award was inaugurated in the summer of 2000, when at the completion of the DEFY Camp, the staff voted unanimously to honor Mr. Robinson for his enthusiasm, leadership and dedication to helping young people. Mr. Robinson’s first priority was always to help kids and teens. In fact, prior to the start of the 2000 DEFY Camp, Mr. Robinson postponed needed open heart surgery so that he would not disappoint the kids he had promised to take to camp. Mr. Robinson’s “Heart of Gold” inspired the United States Attorney’s Office to create this award. Mr. Robinson was the first recipient. Unfortunately, Mr. Robinson passed away before the start of DEFY Camp in 2001. However, through the award, his inspiration, compassion and commitment to improving the lives of the youth in our communities lives on.
A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can. All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be directed to Luke Macaulay at (415) 436-6757 or by email at Luke.Macaulay@usdoj.gov.
