The Silver Creek Players is a performing group of children from three continents.  These sparkling performers are part of Sequoia's Silver Creek Academy in Mesa, Arizona. Some of the students were born in the United States, while others were adopted from orphanages in Russia; a country so vast that it stretches from the European continent all the way across Asia.

These artistic children delight audiences with their colorful costumes, amazing dance sequences, vocal and instrumental music, and engaging production numbers.

The children have been performing to audiences in Arizona, and also had the opportunity to travel to the East Coast, where they saw actual places featured in their program.  They  saw history come alive as they visited  and performed in Illinois, Vermont, Boston,  and Washington D. C. Particularly memorable was a performance at the Russian Cultural Center, associated with the Russian Embassy in Washington.  Here the children were able to present an overview of American History to an enthusiastic audience of Russians.

Audiences have the opportunity to see how these children from the other side of the world have become a part of America.  Their tour program underscores the cohesive culture of our nation, made up of immigrants from all over the world.

The program, entitled “Tribute to America”, highlights our country’s development from earliest colonists and patriots through the westward expansion.  It brings heart-felt appreciation for our freedom, along with scintillating fun as talented youngsters sing, dance, and celebrate America!

For more information, please contact Gloria Wilcox, Director Silver Creek Players at (480) 610-8835 or e-mail Gloria at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Two weeks prior to graduating from Arizona Project Challenge, Cadet Michael Jensen will be the first Arizona Project Challenge cadet to graduate with a high school diploma from Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning.

In December of 2008 a partnership was formed between Arizona Project Challenge and Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning in order to give Project Challenge cadets the option of earning credits toward their high school diploma. Prior to the partnership the cadets’ only option was to earn their GED (General Equivalency Diploma). However, even this lone option left the cadets and their families, even APC administration, wanting more. Now, the cadets have options.

“Every time I visit the campus at Project Challenge, I am amazed at the cadets’ response to having educational options, especially those cadets wanting now to pursue their high school diploma,” said Paula Bynum, Student Services Director at Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning.

Michael Jensen initially enrolled in Arizona Project Challenge because he struggled with traditional learning in traditional environments. After enrolling in Arizona Project Challenge, Cadet Jensen took full advantage of the partnership with Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning and as a result, will be the first cadet to graduate from the program with a high school diploma. Clark Coldiron, Director of Arizona Project Challenge, said, “We fully expected that future cadets would eventually graduate with a high school diploma as the partnership evolved, we just didn’t think it would happen this fast.”

Cadet Jensen was able to make the online learning environment work for him, and as a result, has achieved success. Angel Avis, Cadet Jensen’s Creative Writing teacher, said, “As an educator, I tremendously value the moments that allow me to observe a student's growth. Cadet Jensen's writing not only improved over time, but I watched his overall confidence increase as well. I was truly struck by the amount of maturity and self-reflection skills that he brought to the poetry he created for the course.”

What’s next for Cadet Michael Jensen? He wants to study Electrical Engineering and will begin his higher education career at Chandler Gilbert Community College in the summer of 2009. From there, because he now knows he has options, not even the sky is the limit.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Rich Harris at 480-276-0416 or e-mail Rich at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Students at Sequoia Charter schools were shocked to see cadets in full military fatigues marching across their campus. Little did they know, the cadets, from Arizona Project Challenge, were there to help mentor elementary students in reading.

Last December, a partnership was formed between Arizona Project Challenge and Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning which allowed Project Challenge cadets to avail themselves of Sequoia’s online curriculum. This partnership also opened up doors for cadets and students to be involved in service learning opportunities within the community. One of these opportunities, called the Kids & Cadet Reading Mentoring Program, explains why cadets in full fatigues were marching across the Sequoia campus.

“These cadets are here three days a week for three hours each day,” said Rich Harris, Partnership Development Coordinator for Sequoia Choice. “These cadets have helped 27 grade school students improve their skills in reading.” All in all, nine cadets have been serving as reading mentors to children in grades K–6.

For the cadets, qualifying to serve as reading mentors has not been easy. “The screening process for the cadets is a rigorous one,” said Ronnie Perez, Lead Counselor at Arizona Project Challenge. “The cadets must be highly performing academically and not have any disciplinary action against them. The cadets not only have to show enthusiasm in participating as a reading mentor, but also support continued efforts in contributing to the program’s growth.”

When asked about the effect that the cadets as mentors have had on the students, Lori Graham, Director of Sequoia Family Learning, said, “The cadets’ dedicated and disciplined attitude has positively affected the success of our students. Our K-6 students have anxiously looked forward to the cadets being in their classroom. The cadets have not only served as mentors and examples, but have also become family to Sequoia Family Learning.”

Even the cadets themselves have been overwhelmed by the support given them as they have endeavored to help their students improve and meet their reading goals. When before there was little, if any, interest in helping another individual succeed, now the cadets can see where their influence and example has had an effect not only on the students they mentor, but on the community as well. Maxie Patel, Reading Curriculum Coordinator for Sequoia, said, “We may never know what action a group of young people engage in that leads to real change and real results in our community. Arizona Project Challenge cadets are a group of young people who are making a difference by providing their time, talents, and dedication to help young children learn to read and succeed.”

Until now, teen cadets at Arizona Project Challenge have been restricted when it comes to education. Now, they have options.

Arizona Project Challenge has partnered with Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning and as a result, Project Challenge cadets now have the option of earning credits toward their high school diploma.

Before enrolling as a Project Challenge cadet, many of these youth struggled in a traditional classroom environment – so much so that for many of them earning a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) was not even an option. By enrolling in Arizona Project Challenge, they learned the necessary discipline to prepare themselves to take the GED. However, even this lone option left the cadets and their families, even APC administration, wanting more.

"Before Sequoia’s involvement with Arizona project Challenge, cadets’ parents were concerned that their children would get further behind in their high school education, missing out on a full semester of credits. Now, the partnership between Arizona Project Challenge and Sequoia Choice allows the cadets to stay on pace with their high school studies, which could allow them to graduate with their class," shared Mike Watkins, Vice Principal at Sequoia Choice.

Now, with the e-learning option that the partnership with Sequoia Choice provides, Project Challenge cadets can take advantage of Sequoia’s online curriculum and continue earning high school credits toward, perhaps even completing, their high school diploma. Clark Coldiron, Director, Arizona Project Challenge said, “With the option of pursuing a high school diploma, opportunities have opened up to these cadets that were not there previously.”

"The partnership between Arizona Project Challenge and Sequoia Choice is truly remarkable. This partnership now allows cadets to have options. Our state standards based curriculum allows these cadets the opportunity to earn high school credits which can make higher education easier to obtain,” Mike Watkins continued.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Rich Harris at 480-276-0416 or e-mail Rich at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it