FLORENCE, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon State will turn 100 years old on February 14th, 2012. To honor this occasion, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office will be holding a ceremony at Poston Butte High School on February 1st, 2012 at 1 p.m. (32375 N. Gantzel Road, San Tan Valley) Governor Jan Brewer will administer the re-affirmation of oath for law enforcement members of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. The Poston Butte High School Band will also perform at the ceremony. The event will be attended by students of the school as well as the school Superintendent Gary Nine, assistant Superintendent Dr. Amy Fuller, Principal Dr. Pappalardo and all 1,800 students.

Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912 when President William Howard Taft signed a United States Statute proclaiming that the conditions established by Congress for the admission of Arizona had been ratified and accepted and that "admission of the State into the Union on an equal footing with others states is now complete."

Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “We are honored to have Governor Brewer come to San Tan Valley to celebrate our Centennial with our staff at Poston Butte High School. The students joining us for this celebration are the future leaders of our great state.”

Following the ceremony, Sheriff Paul Babeu and Chief Deputy Steve Henry will present the graduating class a check for $5,000 to be used for their graduation event. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office has provided funding for local high schools throughout the county for a safe, alcohol and drug free graduation night. The funds are once again provided through money seized from criminal drug smugglers through the RICO statute.

Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “Protecting our youth and Pinal County families is the primary job of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. I commend Poston Butte High School for starting this program to help protect seniors on graduation night. Two years ago, we had a fatal accident and another rollover accident in Pinal County on graduation night involving our young adults. I want these young adults to achieve their dreams and to celebrate graduation safely.”

Below is an article written last year by a Florence High School Senior after a donation was made to her school.

“With graduation just around the corner, seniors are getting excited for the first ever Florence High School Senior Lock-In. To get students informed and pumped about this exciting new event that Florence High School is establishing, Sheriff Babeu came and spoke to all seniors about the reasons for having the senior lock in. It is not only to help seniors celebrate their many accomplishments, but to help keep us safe from getting into trouble or into one of the many heart wrenching accidents that have happened in the past years on graduation night. Sheriff Babeu also asked a very important question that got everyone in the room thinking about what they are going to do after high school. He asked many seniors what they wanted to do for a career, and supported everyone when they informed him of their dreams. He told every senior that if you can believe in something, you can achieve it, and told us how everyone can achieve their dreams. Trying to relate more with the seniors, Sheriff Babeu told us about his struggles in school and how he got an awakening and realized that he wanted more in his life. Sheriff Babeu helped many seniors in the room including me, not only to work toward our goals but accomplish them as well. Thank you to the Sheriff's department for the donation made to Florence High School for the senior lock in. Also thank you to Sheriff Babeu for believing in all of the seniors at Florence High School and supporting us in making our dreams into reality.”