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11 June, 2008
Dear Parents and Potential Candidates:
It is with great sadness and regret that we must inform you that the Alabama National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy has not been funded for future classes; therefore, we will not be in session for the July 2008 Class. We will officially close on 30 June, 2008.
We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Cadets since our first class and we looked forward to working with your Potential Candidate. We want to thank each of you for your desire and interest in attending our Academy and most importantly, your willingness to entrust your child to our care. With your permission, we will maintain their records and notify you if Youth ChalleNGe has any future plans for classes. Feel free to contact your local representatives and express your desire to see the Academy reopen in the future.
If you are still interested in attending a Youth Challenge Academy, please visit our national website at www.ngycp.org and contact an Academy in surrounding states. Because you must have residency in the state of the Academy, this letter may assist you when applying by attaching a copy of this letter to your application.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at (256) 847-6100 or (256) 847-6103.
Sincerely,
Scott W. Martin
Director
CLASS 2008-01 YCA RANGERS
NAME POSITION HOMETOWN
THOMAS BATES CORPORAL HEFLIN
LASHARSKY BROOKS CORPORAL CAMP HILL
DEANDRE BROWN ANNISTON
CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL LINEVILLE
KRISTIN CASSEBAUM LILLIAN
JACOB DAVIS CORPORAL TROY
STEPHEN DELANEY VINCENT
JAMI HAWKINS 1st SQUAD LEADER PELL CITY
ANDREW HEBERT LANETT
AUSTIN JORDAN CORPORAL DECATUR
BEN MAENZA TRUSSVILLE
TYLAR MCMURRY CORPORAL TUSCUMBIA
COLBY PARKER 2nd SQUAD LEADER BAY MINETTE
JARVIS POWELL BIRMINGHAM
SCOTT SOCKWELL 3rd SQUAD LEADER JACKSONS GAP
SHANE TURNER GULF SHORES
JARED WALLACE PLATOON SGT. BIRMINGHAM
CLASS 2008-01
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST
WORKKEYS RECIPIENTS
Rachel West Gold Huntsville, Alabama
Timothy Hargrove Gold Coker, Alabama
Tylor Blakney Gold Carrollton, Alabama
Brittany Golden Silver Lincoln, Alabama
Courtney Gallups Silver Alexander City, Alabama
Cassandra Richey Silver Killen, Alabama
Justin Emigh Silver Mobile, Alabama
Colby Parker Silver Bay Minette, Alabama
Thomas Bates Silver Heflin, Alabama
Tylar McMurry Silver Tuscumbia, Alabama
Jami Hawkins Silver Pell City, Alabama
Donald Kitchens Silver Northport, Alabama
Ja'Von Joyner Silver Harvest, Alabama
Richard Aldridge Bronze Warrior, Alabama
Thursday, July 19, 2007
TOM GORDON
Birmingham News staff writer
More than 100 high school dropouts are slated to start the second session of the Alabama National Guard's Youth Challenge Academy, and officials are hoping this class will have many more graduates than the first.
"From looking at the applications and the interest that was expressed by the folks coming to our orientations, I feel good that we're going to have a group of young folks showing up that have an interest in being here," academy director Roger Cagle said. "They're coming because ... they want to come and make a difference."
The academy, based in an old Women's Army Corps barracks at Fort McClellan, will have what officials call intake day on Sunday for 104 prospective cadets - 80 males and 24 females. They are slated to be at the academy for 5 months, during which they are to receive military-type discipline and free academic training to earn a high school equivalency certificate and testing to determine their job skills. After they graduate, a mentor will work with them for the next year.
Cagle, who took over as academy director in mid-April, made some staff changes after taking the helm and has continued making changes since the end of the first session. The cadre that provides military-type supervision to the cadets has 12 new members who have been training for their new assignment.
"If we have 100 kids, we're going to have 100 different situations show up and we've got to have the cadre and staff that are trained as best as we can train them," Cagle said.
Participants generally must volunteer for the Youth Challenge program, which is funded 60 percent by the federal National Guard Bureau and 40 percent by the state. The cadets in most cases must be 16 to 18, be drug-free and have no felony convictions.
Cagle said the academy is now recruiting for its third session, which will begin in January. Those interested in having someone attend the January session can call Cagle's secretary, Beth Guarnieri at 256-847-6103; deputy director Billy Haney at 256-847-6101; or e-mail Cagle at Roger.Cagle@smd.alabama.gov. tgordon@bhamnews.com
70 complete pre-challenge phase of Youth Challenge Academy
Friday, August 10, 2007
Seventy high school dropouts have completed the two-week pre-challenge phase of the Alabama National Guard's Youth Challenge Academy and are expected to spend the next five months receiving the academy's blend of discipline and academic training.
Academy spokeswoman Lisa O'Day said the class, which is the academy's second, consists of 52 male and 18 female cadets. About 90 potential cadets showed up for the second class session, but 20 chose not to stay, O'Day said.
"A lot of them just had personal issues going on in their lives and they felt they just could not stay here," O'Day said. "We do hope that they come back."
Classes for the academy's second session started Monday. During the pre-challenge phase, the incoming class members were evaluated to determine "their potential for successfully completing the program," according to the state Guard.
Those cadets now in the second class include Ronald Barker and Sean McClellan of Birmingham, Christopher McDonald of Vestavia Hills and Luther Bounds of Pleasant Grove, the Guard said.
The youth academy is based in an old Women's Army Corps barracks at Fort McClellan in Anniston. Its cadets receive military-type discipline, academic training to earn a high school equivalency certificate, and testing to determine their job skills. After they graduate, a mentor will work with them for the next year.
When the academy started its first session Jan. 21, it had a class of 117. An early brawl and other problems beset the operation, and fewer than 30 cadets were on hand for the June 23 graduation.
"We were a little on edge there for a while," said O'Day, who described the latest group of cadets as "absolutely wonderful."
Participants generally must volunteer for the Youth Challenge program, which is funded 60 percent by the federal National Guard Bureau and 40 percent by the state. The cadets in most cases must be 16 to 18, be drug-free and have no felony convictions.
E-mail: tgordon@bhamnews.com
Posted by Birmingham News photo staff
August 12, 2007
Sam Lanoue is getting a second chance at a second chance. The 18 year-old of Huntsville, Ala. is one of 67 remaining cadets in this session's Alabama National Guard Youth Challenge, a five-month program for at-risk youth to make lifestyle changes.
While watching others go through the program for the first time, Lanoue recalls the first time he attempted a Youth Challenge in Georgia and dropped out. "You feel real alone. You're so lost and you're out of your comfort zone. "After going to an alternative high school because of drugs and eventually dropping out, Lanoue heard of Youth Challenge and joined. His experience this time is different than the former. "It felt like being in high school all over again. It was real hard to feel at ease; people are more personal here." Now, a year later, he realizes the importance of getting his life on track and is trying the program again. "When you come here you see how big of a second chance this is. Some people see it and some people don't." With aspirations to go to college and studying medicine, Lanoue says nothing is going to stop him from finishing this time. "There's no saying 'no.' I'm getting my GED and going to LSU."
Samantha Clemens
The Birmingham News
Response to the above article
Posted by kimberly2125 on 08/14/07 at 7:34AM
My son is currently enrolled in this program. Just in the 3 weeks that he has been in the academy I can tell a difference in his attitude. He is a lot more appreciative of the things that he had before he went in. While in the program he has came to realize that there is more to life that just being involved with the wrong crowd.
I am grateful that there is a program out there to help the kids at risk. If more people would get more information about this program and send their children they would be doing their selves plus everyone else a better chance.
The program is based on the training offered to military personnel while in basic training. There is not any screaming in the faces or touching the children inappropriately.
You should log onto the website if you would like more information.
http://www.ngycp.org/state/al/
One proud Mom of Cadet Jonathan Wright
- December 2006: Academy to mentor at-risk youths Montgomery Advertiser
- December 2006: ALABAMA VOICES: Guard program offers academic avenue Montgomery Advertiser
The Piedmont Journal
COMMUNITY NEWS
Williams completes Youth Challenge
08-14-2007
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Adam Williams recently completed the two-week Pre-Challenge Phase of the Alabama Army National Guard's Youth Challenge Academy. The 70 young men and women make up Class 2 in Alabama's Youth Challenge Academy. They will begin the 22-week in-residence phase of the Academy at McClellan later this month. In the phase applicants are assessed to determine their potential for successfully completing the program. A caring and disciplined tough love atmosphere in the program allows the applicants to adjust to the physical, mental and social discipline necessary to complete the program. Teamwork was emphasized during all Pre-Challenge Phase activities. The cadets participate in close order drill and ceremony, practice and develop leadership and "followership" traits, study the code of conduct and take part in physical fitness training. By successfully completing the Pre-Challenge Phase, the students earned the distinction of becoming full fledged cadets. The students were awarded their uniforms and also earned the rank of private 2nd class. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program is a community based program that trains and mentors at-risk youth, ages 16 to 18, so that they can become productive citizens in the future.
'Blood brothers' facing challengePosted by Birmingham News photo staff September 10, 2007 Demetrius Williams, left, and Christopher Mann play Uno with other Youth Challenge cadets at Fort McClellan on Thursday.
Demetrius Williams questioned if he could handle being away from his family and friends for five months to join the National Guard's Youth Challenge Academy. With his stepbrother by his side, however, he knows he can do it. ''He motivated me to do something,'' Williams said of Christopher Mann. ''Right now I'm pushing myself to do this because now I know I can do it.'' Williams and Mann, who consider themselves ''blood brothers,'' lived apart from each other for four-and-a-half years before joining the program together. Now, reunited and sharing a bunk bed in the barracks, the two ''get in stupid brother fights,'' like they used to, Williams said. ''We share everything except for a toothbrush,'' Mann said. Recently, they both decided to run for president in the student government race open to all Youth Challenge Academy participants, and they both voted for the same person. ''I voted for my brother,'' Williams said. Mann voted for himself, but said, ''I would have given his vote back if I knew that,'' after realizing what his brother did. Regardless of the race, the two look out for each other. ''When I'm down, he picks me up,'' Williams said. ''When he's down I try to pick him up." Samantha Clemens FROM THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS: |
The tears started when Megan Billings of Smith Station saw her family out of the corner of her eye. Still, she kept her eyes straight ahead as she and the other cadets of National Guard Youth Challenge Academy marched by. Watching were the parents, siblings and extended family and friends of those enrolled in the five-month program. This was their first time to meet since the academy session started 10 weeks earlier. The cadets presented the colors, then broke to embrace their loved ones. ''I've never cried so many happy tears, and I just hate to see them leave,'' Billings said of the six-hour visit by 15 family members. Billings said being away from her family has been the hardest part of the academy. ''Church and family are the most important things for me. When you have that, you can appreciate the small things.'' Despite the difficulties, Billings said she has a new sense of direction. She has plans to join the National Guard and attend community college before transferring to Auburn as a business management major.
Samantha Clemens
CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE
The following Cadet's have passed their workkeys tests and received their "Career Readiness Certificate" (CRC). The CRC is an assessment-based credential that gives employers and career seekers a uniform measure of key workplace skills. It is a job skills assessment system measuring "real world" skills that employers believe are crucial to job success. It certifies that individuals have the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to succeed for entry-level work in the 21st Century workplace. There are 3 levels that individuals may earn: Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Name Level earned
Justin Curry Silver Gadsden, Al.
Chris MacDonald Silver Vestavia Hills, Al.
Sam Lanoue Bronze Hunstville, Al.
Benjamin Ford Silver Anniston, Al.
Patrick Jackson Silver Tuscaloosa, Al.
John McLain Silver Minter, Al.
Henry Youngblood Gold Camden, Al.
Jonathan Wright Bronze Alpine, Al.
Megan Billings Silver Smith Station, Al.
Dawn Guy Bronze Brewton, Al.
Lashonda Dawkins Bronze Auburn, Al.
Ramon Hooks Silver Muscle Shoals, Al.
Maverick Landry Silver Daphne, Al.
Kelly Smalley Bronze Crossville, Al.
Vincent Brown Bronze Alexander City, Al.
Robert McKeough Bronze Wilmer, Al.
Jeffery Simmons Bronze Montevallo, Al.
Kenyetta Ellis Bronze Anniston, Al.
Samantha Haynes Bronze Ranburne, Al.
Montonyo Hooks Bronze Muscle Shoals, Al.
Michael Boone Silver Monroeville, Al.
Luther Bounds Silver Pleasant Grove, Al.
Cody Crossland Silver Foley, Al.
Robert Price Bronze Salem, Al.
Chris Mann Bronze Anniston, Al.
Sharon Bailey Bronze Anniston, Al.
The following Cadet's have received their GED.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Megan Billings Smith Station
Rose Baxter Woodland
John McLain Minter
Henry Youngblood Camden
Patrick Jackson Tuscaloosa
Benjamin Ford Anniston
Christopher MacDonald Vestavia Hills
Jonathan Wright Alpine
Michael Boone Monroeville
Maverick Landry Daphne
Jeffrey Simmons Montevallo
LaShonda Dawkins Auburn
Ramon Hooks Muscle Shoals
ST. CLAIR