FRUITVALE, Colo. (KKCO) - Arminel Estevez says she never expected she could go to college. She says, "I'm planning on going to Mesa State. Then I'm transfering to CU Boulder."

School administrators say Arminal comes from a Spanish-speaking family, and she will be the first person to graduate from high school, much less college. They say she was a mediocre student in middle school, and wasn't unlocking her full potential. That's why she was chosen for the AVID program at Central High School. "Why was I chosen? I was never told why I was chosen. But I hope it was because they saw something in me like, this person can go very far."

Avid is an acronym for "Advancement Via Individual Determination." It helps a certain type of student realize they can accomplish anything through rigorous studying, note-taking, organization, college application and resume instruction.

All students must also carry a massive binder throughout their time in the program. Assistant Principal Lanc Sellden says, "Anytime you see someone in the AVID program, they've got a giant binder under their arm and a kink in their back."

Sellden says, AVID "looks at getting middle school students who are on the right track, but not necessarily pushing themselves like they should." He says Arminel has a lot of dreams, and AVID is helping her reach them. After graduating from CU Boulder, she plans on becoming a linguist.

Another Central student is participating in the JROTC program. Britteny Rogers says, "I've always had a thing for being in the military. I think it'd be a great thing to do, serve your country."

Britteny says she'd like to go into the U.S. Air Force or the U.S. Navy. Central is the only school in District 51 that offers the JROTC.