Sheriff Lee Baca was presented with a $5,000 check by California State Senator Ron Calderon today, which was awarded to the Sheriff’s Leadership Academy’s Film Class.

Last year, Dr. Michael Gonzales, Professor of Cinema at Biola University volunteered to teach a cinema class at the Leadership Academy. What Dr. Gonzales found was a group of budding filmmakers who lacked adequate equipment to make their own quality films. Dr. Gonzales and his grants person, Caroline Fernandez, applied for a grant from the Barona Education Grants Program, which was endorsed by State Senator Ron Calderon’s office.

The Barona Education Grant is awarded to educational programs based on endorsements by locally-elected state legislators. Grant funds are used for materials that promote academic improvement and aim to make a difference in the lives of current and future students.

The Sheriff’s Leadership Academy was established to benefit community children by teaching leadership skills and providing hands-on learning and instruction in a safe and monitored environment. The Academy is staffed by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Training Bureau and members of the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Dr. Gonzales, A Sheriff’s Department Volunteer, works closely with the deputies teaching a film component. Pursuit Systems of North Hollywood, remote camera cars for major motion pictures like “Unstoppable,” is one the partners also adopting the class.

Sheriff Baca is known for his commitment and vision to education. The Sheriff’s Leadership Academy is one of those success stories.