GALVESTON — Central Middle School’s 15-year-old karate program will be honored today at a ceremony in Houston featuring legendary martial artist Chuck Norris.

AP

Chuck Norris

Norris founded KickStart, originally called Kick Drugs out of America, in 1992 only in Texas.

Central Middle School is one of four original schools that still have the program. There are 10 districts total in the Dallas and Houston areas that use KickStart as a way to deter almost 6,000 Texas students from crime and drugs, said Steve Kelley, executive director of the foundation.

Tonight, five busloads of students, parents and alumni from Central Middle School’s KickStart program will get the opportunity to meet Norris and have their picture taken with the “Walker: Texas Ranger” star most famous for his roundhouse kicks.

They will demonstrate high-impact karate moves, read a proclamation from the city of Galveston presented to Norris and receive karate belts, Kelley said.

“This is a huge, huge event for these kids,” he said.

The program begins at 7 p.m. at Delmar Fieldhouse, 2020 Magnum Road, in Houston.