Mission View Elementary School third-grader Damaris Duarte, 9, and Sunnyside High School junior Rosie Lopez , 17, make an Easter book at an Easter party last week at the House of Neighborly Service, 243 W. 33rd St.

Sunnyside High School students gave 28 youngsters a surprise jump on Easter.

The Sunnyside students participate in Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates, a program for ninth- through 12th-graders who are considered at risk of not graduating or being unable to land an entry-level job.

The children – mostly students at Mission View and C.E. Rose Elementary schools in the Tucson Unified School District – are in the after-school program at the House of Neighborly Service, a nonprofit social services group at 243 W. 33rd St.

Together they created arts and crafts, and painted and hunted for Easter eggs last week.

The highlight for Mission View fifth-grader America Romo, 10, was painting eggs and making her teacher a card.

Without the JAG students, “we would not have as much fun,” America said.

Mission View fifth-grader Vanessa Baiz, 11, who has attended the nonprofit group’s after-school program for four years, said she especially enjoyed the egg hunt and hanging out with the high schoolers.

“It was cool,” Vanessa said. “They help you with everything.”

Formed in 1981, Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates partners with 18 school districts, with more than 600 young people statewide involved.

Funding sources include the Department of Education and several foundations.

“We all get more knowledge about what different careers are out there for us and what other opportunities we have that we don’t know about,” said Sunnyside junior Amanda Sanchez.

She is in her second year with JAG.

Daniela Lopez, 22, program coordinator at the House of Neighborly Service, was invited two weeks ago to speak with JAG students about her own journey through the program.

Lopez said her involvement inspired her to one day become a first-grade teacher.

“Even if their interest is not so much towards working with children,” Lopez said, “they’re still going to gain experience by helping the students academically.”

The high school students also take part in events such as the Walk to Cure Diabetes during the fall and the Penny Drive for the Ronald McDonald House.

Sunnyside senior Zuilma Cordova-Lopez, 18, started with the program last year.

On a recent visit to Ocotillo Elementary School, the high school students each brought a gift to a disabled fourth- or fifth-grader.

“It was really emotional,” said Cordova-Lopez, who would like to go into psychology.

“I don’t think without JAG I would have ever gotten the experience of doing such things with others, getting so involved with children,” Cordova-Lopez said.

Sanchez, in the program for a second year, hopes to become a juvenile court probation officer because she said it would allow her to make a difference in troubled kids’ lives.

Lopez, the former program student, said the high school students who took part in the early Easter celebration “were really excited.”

“I’m really happy they showed up. The more help, the better.

“The kids will always remember it.”

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HOW TO HELP

Would you like to help JAG students at Sunnyside High School attend the April 28 Career Development Conference in Mesa?

Students are raising funds, and about $125 is needed per student to pay for accommodations.

To donate or for more information, call Sunnyside’s JAG program coordinator, Christina Benitez, at 545-5319.

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Sunnyside Unified School District hopes to launch five new middle school JAG programs involving seventh- and eighth-grade students at: