Most of the school year, Jackie Whitworth’s students are learning how to become police officers, lawyers, and other professionals in the criminal justice system. But for a few days each December, they become something more--they become Santa Clause for some very needy children.

Forty-six students in Newberry High School’s Academy of Criminal Justice collected more than $1400 this year, enough to buy 21 children in the Guardian ad Litem program several Christmas gifts. The children who will receive the gifts are involved in the court system because they’ve been abused, neglected or abandoned. The Guardian ad Litem program provides advocates who speak for the children in the courts.

Dotty Faibisy, assistant director for the Guardian ad Litem program, says the toys, clothes and other gifts collected by the Newberry students will make a huge difference to the children in the program.

“To know that there are students in our community willing to help out children they don’t know and give them a Christmas is so heartwarming,” said Faibisy.

Students in the Academy of Criminal Justice are preparing for careers in law, law enforcement, corrections and other jobs associated with the justice system. Whitworth says the opportunity to participate in this community service project is a perfect fit.

“This goes right along with our curriculum, because the children they’re helping are involved in the system the students will one day be a part of,” said Whitworth. “It also brings the students together for a common purpose, and teamwork is a big part of police work.”

Armed with a list of first names, ages and genders of the children from the Guardian ad Litem program, the students went on an evening shopping trip, picking out the gifts themselves. They then wrapped and labeled the gifts so they’d be ready for the children to open on Christmas morning.

Whitworth says she’s particularly proud of the fact that her students came up with most of the money to buy gifts themselves, chipping in lunch money and even paychecks from part-time jobs.

“They’ve really embraced the idea that it’s better to give than to receive,” she said. “They just gave and gave and gave and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

Students in the program say the idea of children without Christmas gifts was a powerful motivator.

“I wanted to help the kids, because they don’t have a Christmas and I do,” said freshman Heather Houchens.

“I really love kids, and just the thought of them not having a Christmas is very sad,” said freshman Naomi Daniels. “Being able to do this felt great.”