Coffman swears in protégé at Capitol

From left, Col. Thomas Duffy Brigade Commander, Overland student Kevin Orellana, 17, Secretary of State Mike Coffman and Master Sgt. David Aragon pose April 21 in the State Capitol in Denver. (Heather A. Longway-Burke/ The Aurora Sentinel)

4/23/08, By Boyd Fletcher - The Aurora Sentinel

Aurora - Dropping out of Aurora Central High School his junior year to join the Army may have been the best move Secretary of State Mike Coffman made in his young life.

"I was at Aurora Central High School in my junior year and, frankly, I wasn't quite into it," he said.

And now he is hoping that 17-year-old Kevin Orellana, whom Coffman has mentored for the last six years, will follow in his footsteps - minus the dropping out part.

Coffman swore the Overland High School junior into the Army National Guard for six years of service at the foot of the steps of the state Capitol foyer April 21, while Orellana's family and recruiter looked on.

Coffman credits his own success to growing up quickly in the Army. He went on to join the Marines, get elected to the state House, the state Senate, as state treasurer and secretary of state. He's now running for Congress.

"I grew up in Aurora and went into the military just like he did as a young man," he said. It really had a very significant impact on my life in terms of giving me determination. It made me certainly have an interest in education far beyond what I had before that."

However, in Coffman's day, he was able to finish a high school equivalency in the army, and then go on to college at the University of Colorado Boulder.

For Orellana, things are a bit more conducive to his studies. As a reservist, Orellana will go through basic training this summer for nine weeks at Ft. Benning, Ga. before returning home and completing his senior year at Overland.

And while he says he's fully aware of what goes on during basic training, drill sergeants and all, he says he is excited about getting out of Colorado and meeting new people.

"I'm looking forward to having fun with it," he said. "I'm also looking forward to moving up and not relying on my parents because I'll be getting paid for all of this."

Though, like many teens would feel at his age, he is a bit bummed about missing out on vacation.

"I'm really looking forward to the no-summer I'm going to have," he said with a laugh.

Coffman first met a shy and undetermined Orellana in 2002 through the Save Our Youth program that pairs mentors and kids.

He said he has seen the then little 11-year-old grow up into a young man he is proud up - especially within the last few months.

"In all of the years I have mentored him, I have tried to link him up with something to get excited about - a career or goal," he said. "This is the first time he has been really excited about something, and he sees the value in an education and in a career."

Orellana, who plans on training in satellite technology, admits he has seen the growth in himself as well.

"I feel really good about all of this," he said. "I can feel my career starting by joining the National Guard. I already have my future written, I just have to follow it."

Sgt. 1st Class Erik Cruz, a recruiter for the National Guard based in local high schools including Overland, has also seen the changes.

"It is cool to see because he is one of the kids in one of my high schools," he said. "He has gone from saying 'Hey man,' to 'Hello, sir.' He has changed a lot, it's great to see."

Like all reservists, he'll have to give up one weekend a month and a month a year.

Smiling from ear to ear as he watched Orellana talking with his family after the ceremony, Coffman looked more like a proud parent than a mentor.

"This is a chance to lift himself up and get a higher education," he said. "I'm hoping he'll be inspired, as I was, to have that kind of self discipline and determination to move forward and accomplish great things in life."

Orellana leaves for basic training the day after school gets out June 3, and in the meantime Coffman has one suggestion for the soon-to-be soldier:

"I told him to exercise a lot before he goes."