NATCHEZ &045; The supporters far outnumbered the graduates, and that was exactly the way the Adolescent Offender Program’s staff wanted it to be.

Nine young men received diplomas from the Youth Court program from Judge John Hudson Monday, and more than 30 more stood around them as a &uot;cloud of witnesses.&uot;

Nancy Hungerford, president of the Adams County Coalition for Children and Youth, used scripture from the Bible about a &uot;cloud of witnesses,&uot; to convey to the graduates that they were not alone in the world.

&uot;There is not a person in this room who is not here because they in someway, directly or indirectly, contributed to your lives,&uot; Hungerford said to the graduates. &uot;This cloud of witnesses doesn’t want you to trip up.&uot;

AOP offers juveniles who’ve been involved in criminal activity a closely monitored environment, help with schoolwork and the support necessary to turn their lives around.

Hudson told the crowd in the Central Alternative School library that many who start AOP never complete it.

&uot;They’ve achieved for themselves a new way to look at life,&uot; Hudson said of the graduates. &uot;AOP is not an easy program. It takes effort and commitment to ultimately get to this day.&uot;

Hudson also praised the parents in the room, saying they were essential to the graduate’s success up to this point, and after.

AOP counselor Robert Morgan gave each graduate a survival kit that included practical reminders of what they’ve learned during the program. The kit included reminders to be flexible, take time for you, promote healing and call for help.

&uot;This is your cloud of witnesses, and they are not through watching you,&uot; Hungerford said. &uot;They want to see you keep living the standard you have today. Don’t disappoint us, and don’t disappoint yourself.

&uot;We aren’t going anywhere, and you are welcome to come back to let us know how things are going.&uot;