By Andrew Carr
The Sentinel
CARLISLE — A second chance is an important part of the juvenile court system.
Few know better than the two students — identified only as Brianna and Joseph — who received college financial assistance Friday during ceremonies for the Fourth Annual George A. Hoffer Second Chance Memorial Scholarship.
Surrounded by probation officers, judges and other court officials, the two were presented with scholarship awards by Ann Hoffer, who established the scholarship in her late husband’s name with the goal to see young people given a second chance and succeed.
George Hoffer was a Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas judge for 26 years and worked with juvenile offenders throughout his career.
“When my husband ran for judge, he would tell people the one thing he was anxious to do was work with juveniles,” Hoffer said. “Our hope is that these young people get an education and lead a successful life. We are strong believers in education.”
Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Hess said the scholarship was aptly named. “As you all know, people who are familiar with the juvenile court justice system ... that young people make mistakes,” he said. “Sometimes they make very serious mistakes, but we also understand that with the right guidance and motivation and a measure of their own self-determination, these young people are in many instances capable of turning their lives around and becoming productive, even noteworthy citizens.”
Hess said no one understood that better than George Hoffer, who passed away five years ago.
Brianna, a 2013 graduate of Cumberland Valley High School, said she struggled with serious issues arising from a drug problem but has since turned her life around. “I had a drug problem, and I was getting in trouble,” she said. “I had about four charges.”
She said she became involved with juvenile probation, “and they were a huge help. Everybody in the whole program has helped me so much.”
After being kicked out of school twice and a month-long stint in rehab, Brianna said she has turned her life around dramatically. “I’ve just grown so much, it has been great,” she said.
An accomplished artist, she said the scholarship is definitely a second chance. She will begin classes at Shippensburg University and is considering a track into criminal justice or social work. “I just want to give back and help somebody out,” she said. “I know what they are going through — I’ve already been there, done that.”
Last year’s recipient and the first winner to complete a second year, Joseph is a 2012 graduate of Mechanicsburg High School and is a sophomore at Penn State University studying physics and chemistry.
“I am glad to know that I am finally actually fulfilling the wishes of the scholarship givers,” he said.
Joseph said that after his arrest for possession of marijuana and going through the court system, probation officials saw his potential and pushed for his involvement in the program. “This is one of the biggest second chances I have ever been given,” he said. “It has definitely helped me out a lot.”
The scholarship, established by Ann Hoffer and Samuel Miller, chief juvenile probation officer, is the first of its kind in the state, Hoffer said. She said that when they approached the state juvenile probation association. “They told us we were nuts.”
But she said the fact that a candidate has returned for a second year is a prime example that it is working. It’s why she instructed that Joseph’s award be increased from the $1,250 awarded each year to $1,850.
Miller said that each year, probation officers recommend young people with whom they are working. With that recommendation from probation as well as from an outside reference, the candidates fill out applications and submit an essay. A panel consisting of Hess, Miller and other probation officials decide the recipient.
The premise is to distribute $1,250 each year, for a total of $5,000 over four years, as long as the candidate successfully completes school with sufficient credits, a 2.0 or above grade point average and stays out of trouble.
Justin Pittman, juvenile probation officer, said he referred both Joseph and Brianna, and to see them succeed is a wonderful feeling.
“I could see the potential,” he said. “They made mistakes, but worked hard, and they didn’t allow the mistake or the unfortunate situation they got into allow them to fall victim to society. They picked themselves up, they did what they needed to do, and they will both be very successful.”