Contact:  Ed Ferenc, Public Information Officer                                         
Cleveland Municipal Court
216 664 6787 / 216 789 2597

(Cleveland) – They were high school dropouts, some in trouble with the law, but they’ve managed to turn their lives around and this past weekend, they celebrated.

Several dozen graduates of two programs designed to promote adult literacy got the opportunity to attend their prom Saturday, August 9.

The formal event took place at the home of Tyrone McGuinea on South Woodland Rd.  in Shaker Heights, Ohio.  McGuinea’s sister, Sandra Garth is the Education First Program Director of Project LEARN, an adult education center that has achieved national attention in its field.

“Even though they didn’t graduate from a traditional school, they deserve to go to the prom they missed.  Many of these students are now parents and an event like this sets a good example for their children,” said Garth, who plans to make this a yearly event.

Many of the attendees where graduates of the Cleveland Municipal Court’s Get on Track Program, which began in 2006 and targets high school dropouts that ended up with a misdemeanor charge.

Get on Track is coordinated by Judges Emanuella Groves, Lauren C. Moore and Charles L. Patton.

“The theme, Delayed, But Not Denied was so appropriate for this.  As a judge, we deal with the negative things that occur in the community, so it’s certainly wonderful to participate in an event that truly celebrates accomplishment,” said Judge Moore