CCAP, CrossFit for Change Celebrate Summer Graduation

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - The Summer CCAP Program and CrossFit for Change held its summer graduation on Wednesday, which saw eight students graduate.

Jaden Wiethe, Madyx Ridenbaugh, Clarissa Jarrett, Paiyten Gaito, Jeshua Holder, Stephanie Buck, Logan Henry, and Nolan Gammeter graduated the 10-week program that's designed to provide youth with opportunities to strengthen their mental, emotional, and social skills through structured programming, positive mentorship, and meaningful community engagement. The program creates a holistic approach to youth development by incorporating physical health and wellness alongside personal growth with the addition of the CrossFit for Change Program.

The CrossFit program is operated through the Belmont County Juvenile Court system and is located at O.V. CrossFit in the Ohio Valley Mall.

"During the summer, we combine the two for our summer program, where they get a holistic approach to mental health, physical health, and social health," CCAP director Noah Atkinson said. "Today we’re celebrating the ones that successfully completed both programs. We call it the CCAP Games, where we have a bunch of team building activities, and have two teams with two team captains, and they compete against each other."

He added that, following the CCAP Games, there was a picnic for the students which was prepared by CCAP staff members.

Throughout the 10 weeks, the students attend programming and CrossFit for Change sessions two days each week while dedicating two additional days each week to completing community service projects throughout Belmont County. This balanced approach encouraged youth to develop healthy habits, build confidence, improve decision-making skills, and give back to their communities.

Following the picnic, the ceremony had a guest speaker — head coach of youth performance at OV CrossFit Jack Bence — discuss nutrition, mental, and physical health.

"We also work with them for the Crossfit For Change program through the court system, working with them on getting them to choose fitness and healthy habits instead of doing things that otherwise would be getting them in trouble," Bence said. "We're trying to instill a level of accountability and professionalism, and getting them to understand that investing in themselves versus investing in other things that is going to set them apart down the road and try to put them on the right track for success."

He added that his passion is working with kids to get them to understand how to believe in themselves and how to work.

"I find that there is a level of fulfillment in making kids healthier and more fit, but also getting them to understand that they’re capable of doing things that are much bigger than themselves," Bence said. "They want to do good, and by getting them to learn how to right the bad habits and make them into good ones, these kids have an opportunity to change their lives."

He added that he is so passionate about helping these children that he would do it even if he wasn't being paid to.

This year also saw the inclusion of CCAP providing not only all of the students in the Crossfit For Change Program but all children who are currently on probation in Belmont County with backpacks in preparation for the upcoming school year.

The backpacks were filled with soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and healthy snacks.

The initiative was made possible by an $8,000 grant provided by the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley.

Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley program director Debbie Stanton said that the grant was through the River Valley Health Fund which focuses on health and wellness for the community.

"This is a perfect project to invest in the children and support them through their journey with court-involved issues," Stanton said.

Belmont County Juvenile Court Judge Al Davies added that the CrossFit For Change Program is important because it gives the students the opportunity to get back on the right track.

"This program gives us a chance to provide a really good teaching learning environment, and also allow them to see that there’s still consequences for their actions," Davies said. "Its a way to achieve growth for for these kids that sometimes maybe they don’t get at home or in throughout the school year."

He added that the students made mistakes but a lot of that contributes to the environment that they’re in.

Following the ceremony, Gulfport Energy presented a $5,000 donation to the Crossfit For Change program to help cover the costs of the program.