Local Boys & Girls Club Director Vance Hammond does a dance as he files through the "Soul Train" line at Tuesday's celebration for five Gaffney students who are part of the Godparents Youth Organization travel mentoring bus trip. The 30-day trip takes students from different locales to several of the country's historic sites, including the Grand Canyon, Tuskegee, Ala., and Washington D.C. Tanya Walters has known for a long time that faith can move mountains.

Passed from home to home at a young age following her mother's death, the youth also had to deal with cruel jokes and jabs from other students, making her feel worthless and without hope.

Using her faith as a guide, the Los Angeles native pulled through, fulfilling things she believed only occurred in dreams.

"I had low self-esteem and let peer pressure get to me," Walters said. "But life has its ups and downs, you just have to find your way through them."

Given strength from past experiences, Walters is equipping youths from each corner of the nation with the tools needed for when life's struggles come their way.

In 2005, Walters founded the Godparents Youth Organization (GYO), a travel-mentoring program for high school students living in lowincome areas with 2.0 grade point averages and lower.

During these trips students see life outside of their communities, visiting several colleges and universities, the Grand Canyon, Washington, D.C., Tuskegee, Ala., Boston and other locations. In addition to an emphasis on education, Walters also focuses on faith and its importance to students' success. As part of the program's curriculum, she requires participants to read 'A Purpose Driven Life," a daily devotional meant to enlighten and inspire readers.

This year the bus made the journey from the South Carolina coast to the Upstate, making a visit to Gaffney and the Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club.

This year marked the first time local students took part in the bus trip. To be considered for the trip, Walters and the GYO staff sent a packet full of books and essays to be completed by students, sending an early message this wasn't just your usual vacation.

"From what I remember, we were required to do a 3- to 4-page essay and conduct a 10-person interview," said local GYO participant Latrivius Morris. "It let us know this was serious and we're here to make a change."

Walters hasn't left their presence since, always willing to give a few words of encouragement or a stern scolding needed to set students straight.

"It doesn't matter what time it is, (Walters) will pick up the phone," said Tanicka Richardson, a GYO participant from San Antonia, Texas. "Since meeting her, I haven't lost contact with her; she would call to check on my report card and to make sure I was staying out of trouble.

"It's definitely a blessing to know someone has faith in you, and knows there is something you have to offer; she's truly an inspiration."

The 30-day trip across the U.S. began with a flight for most participants to Los Angeles, where they spent a few days getting to know their peers and enjoying Los Angeles through visits to Venice Beach, Universal Studios and other locations.

For local Godparents Youth Organization liaison Edward Surratt, one word sums up local students' experience: priceless.

"A lot of tears were cried during that trip to Los Angeles," Surratt said. "Not because we were sad; those were tears of joy because of what God has done."

Since departing Los Angeles in the wee hours of the morning June 21, students have been to the Grand Canyon, Southern Methodist University (SMU), the Mississippi home of slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers and the grave site of civil rights pioneers Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta.

And all that was in the first 11 days.

On tap for students' remaining time on the bus are trips to several more colleges and universities, Washington D.C., and New York City among other stops on the tour.

However, participants are mainly looking forward to enjoying the company of the newest members to their family.

"I don't know what I will do once these 30 days are over," said Kimberly Talbert, a GYO participant from Memphis, Tenn. "These people have become a part of my family, and these are relationships I will have the rest of my life."

"Seeing these kids break down walls and build relationships, it's a testament to what God has done," Walters said, " and He's not done yet."