How can a parent thank a fine group of people who helped that a boy and mold him into a man.
This young man is PFC Matthew Paul Hayes, he was in class 25 at VA ChalleNGe (4th Platoon).
You may not remember but Matthew was one of your younger cadets. He was 16 and 6 months when he entered the program. He graduated from the program one week after his 17th Birthday.
Lavarius Majette
A Mother's Story
I want to share with you the experience I've had with the Virginia National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program (VNGYCP). My son, Robert, has been an independent thinker since the day he was born. It did not matter to him what anyone else needed or wanted, he was determined to do things his way. Like most parents, it was cute at first, but as time went by, the cuteness wore off and this independence became "annoying" for lack of a better word. That annoyance turned to anger, at everything.
Homeless Dropout Becomes Gifted Educator
One amazing ChalleNGe success story is that of Summer Slade Gales, who graduated from the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Program in Virginia with the first class, 1994-1995. Summer says, "I don't know how my life would have turned out, were it not for the chance I was given by ChalleNGe -and I don't want to know! I would like to thank the Cadre and staff for providing the solid foundation and personal guidance I needed to gain maturity and success in life.
