Following 12 sessions of character development, a group of seven students from Abraxas have graduated and been given the tools to help turn their lives around.

Youngsville Borough Police Chief Todd Mineweaser, and Pennsylvania State Police corporals Todd Koebley and Noelle Schad were the instructors for the Character: Be About It program.

The students met with their instructors through sessions including: Self-Regulation, Hope, Grit, Integrity, Bravery, Social Intelligence, Fairness, Kindness, Curiosity, Optimism, Zest, and Gratitude.

“We’re trying to get them on the right track,” Mineweaser said. “When they get back from Abraxas, they’ll have some tools.”

When asked about their takeaways from the program, Mineweaser said several students commented things like, “We never had cops talk like this to us.”

“Matt Harris formed All About Character LLC to offer a solution to the growing problem of marginalized youth,” according to the Character website. “He assembled a team of researchers, educators and fellow state troopers to develop and implement a youth development program that focuses on prevention, starting from grade three. Since 2012, Character: Be About It (CBAI) has worked in 50 schools with 950 students from all backgrounds with documented success.”

The curriculum — intended to be delivered by law enforcement officers — was developed by educator Nathan Otis, Mineweaser said.

Sometimes, the students became the teachers.

“I think we learned as much from them telling their stories about their home lives as they learned from us,” Mineweaser said. “They were awesome.”

Mineweaser said there will be another program in the county in the spring.

Information about the program can be found at www.characterbeaboutit.org.