I am a graduate of December 1996 Class 5. Its been a long time. In the last three years I have married and had a son named Christian. I am also a youth pastor at River of Life Church in Winnsboro,La. I am continuing my education by seeking a degree in Elementary Education at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Even though I have left the state of Mississippi, I'll never forget where I graduated from. Going through the the Youth Challenge Program was the best thing that could happen to me. It taught me respect, responsibility, and gave me the education needed to carry me through life. Thank you for everything that you have done and will continue to do to help teens. God Bless, Scott D. McHand

LTC Hosey, I know you had originally spoke to me about joining the Air National Guard while I was in cycle 26. I enlisted in the Air Guard but my heart kept telling me that I belonged somewhere else. I answered the calling and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and I couldn't be happier. I love the Corps. Youth Challenge has given me some of the leadership traits that I use today to make me the Marine I am. I hope that all cadets really take in everything that the Cadre tell them. I owe so much to the YCP. I don't know where I would be if I wouldn't have gone. It really was some of the best times of my life. I will be leaving for Iraq soon but I am not scared as the YCP has taught me to overcome all challenges that stand in my way. Iraq is just another challenge. I hope to visit soon after I get back. In the meantime please give the "Dawg Pound" a big OORAH for me. SEMPER FIDELIS, JESSE MOURING, LCPL USMC

My name is Shelbie Deen, I was cycle 23. Before I went to YCP I didn't have a chance. High school was already set for me to fail.. Besides my mom and grandma, no one else would ever think to believe in me. My mom brought something home one day about YCP and how it could change my life and get on the right path. I was never pushed or talked into going, but I thought to give it a chance. I got everything I needed and the first day was so fast, I can just remember my mom and grandma's face knowing that now I had a chance. Besides when I was young I didn't know how it felt to have someone that was proud of you, my mom told me throughout the cycle if I wanted to come home it was my choice. The first 2 weeks are hard, granted, but once I put over 2 months into the challenge program it was awesome. I was one of the one's they chose to offer to attend college classes --- no where or no one else could have done that. Cycle 23 was Hurricane Katrina- I can remember 2 girls stayed behind while everyone else went home for the storm. Those two girls and a few select guys put in so much work and effort to help. God bless them, I can remember coming back and getting my GED scores, You can only imangine what kind of feeling that was, I had completed something in life.. There are so many memories in those 5 months I just want to thank EVERYONE at YCP for giving me a second chance, Thank you for giving my mom something to be proud of. I continued into college and I'm taking the summer off I'm thinking of joining the air force. Thank ya'll so much! To anyone who is going to YCP- They have been doing this a long time!! When they say that you will look back and wish you had one more day there, you will. I would do anything to be G17 again!!!

Sincerly, Shelbie Deen, Cycle 23

"Yes, the day that I thought would never get here is fastly approaching. It has been challenging for me because I had to first let my son go and trust perfect strangers to do what I was having a diffucult time doing and that was turning my son into a young man. I can truly say that the staff at Mississippi Challenge Academy are very good at what they do. I've had the oppurtunity several times to speak to COL Crowson and to have him show that much concern for my son meant the world to someone like me. Often in life we send our children off to school or whatever and they encounter people that don't want to deal with their attitude. They label your child from that point on; but, I can truly say that it is not like that here. Not only have they helped my son; but, they have helped me also. Talking with COL Crowson was enlightening to me and he noticed things about me just by talking to me on the phone. That let me know that he was listening to me. He also said some things about my son that no mother wants to hear; but, I can truly say that he was exactly right. With that said I want him to know that he has made a difference in the life of a very worried and stressed out parent. Keep doing all the good that you can because you and your staff are truly difference makers." Parent of Class 26 Graduate

"Because of individuals like you, my son now enjoys life again. He sees himself with a future ... Because of sharing and openness of another mother, whose child had already been through Mississippi Youth ChalleNGe, my son's opportunity to change his life was made possible." Parent of Class 19 Graduate

LTC Hosey, I graduated from cycle 23 in December of 2005. I just wanted to tell you thank you for helping me join the Air National Guard (ANG). If it wasn't for your help in guiding me to the ANG, I would more than likely be right back into the stuff that I was trying to get away from. I have been in the ANG for almost 2 years now and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I hope that after I decide to leave the ANG I could someday come and work for the same program that helped me get my life out of the gutter and back on track. If there is anything that I can ever do for you or the Youth Challenge Acadmey, I will try to the best of my ability to do what I can. Once again I want to thank you, words can't explain my gratitude for the help you have given me. A1C James A. Roberts

Dear Dr. Crowson,

Six of your cadets assisted me last week in a community beautification project. The landscape of our local library was overgrown, neglected and unsightly to say the least. And so, for my first time working with this group I met my "team" of ordinary looking young men at City Hall and off we went with one pair of gardening shears and four young men heading to the library. Later in the morning I gained the assistance of two more cadets. We did manage to round-up some decent landscaping tools, a to-do list that had been scribbled by one of our library volunteers, and a project so huge that I became overwhelmed even beginning to figure-out where to begin. My team deciphered the to-do list, they scanned the task at hand, prioritized, strategized and went to work. These guys were self-starters, worked hard and steady, and they worked miracles transforming the entire library area into a picturesque landscape of which the citizens and visitors of the library can be proud. This in itself is worthy of notable mention. But my primary purpose for writing is to tell you what an awesome program you have. These young men are among the very finest young men I've ever met. I worked in the field of leadership development for many years, and I consider myself somewhat of an expert on the subject. Your cadets define leadership, they live leadership, and I can tell that their values come from their core, not just some superficial act. They carry themselves so proudly but not egotistically. I was amazed at their ability to maintain a positive attitude. We were working in 96* heat with at least 90% humidity, and they never stopped. They even expressed enjoyment in the tasks at hand…as I was whining about the heat. I'd like to applaud their commander LTC Hosey as well. He made the rounds, insuring that everything was working smoothly. I enjoyed his personality, but at one point, later in the day, he was telling me to expect the boys to continue working until mid-afternoon. I mentioned that I thought that was a lot to expect, and the beauty of the situation was in the boys smiling telling me that, "you know, he believes in working, and he has to act tough, but he's (LTC Hosey) a really a nice guy" and that basically they all knew that he loved them but had to have that tough exterior. I could not believe the adoration these boys had for their commander. I just fell in love with every one of these young men, and wanted to adopt them all. They were talkative, but not too talkative. Several liked talking about their hopes and dreams for staying in the military, several talked about how grateful they were to be getting this opportunity at Camp Shelby. One of the young men was so quiet at first, but quickly his personality began to shine. He quietly took on one of the most difficult (and precise) jobs in trimming the shrubbery (with an old-timey, dull-bladed hand trimmer). I asked if he wanted to trade jobs after a while to something easier, and he said that he'd just stick to what he was doing. We finally found him a hedge trimmer. But you could easily see that he was one who had stick-to-it-ive-ness and would see a job through to the end. I ended up getting to know him, and I learned that he's a deep thinker and very intelligent. Then, of course, I had a few "right-hand-men" – my heavy lifters, my heavy thinkers, and my hard workers. I've been touting your program ever since my experience with your cadets. You have given these young men discipline (you should hear some of the funny stories about what some of these natural night owls will do to get up early enough to get a cup of coffee – and other antics); I could even go so far as to say they have a genuine respect for the discipline. You've given them core values, a demeanor that invites one to get to know more about them. They have confidence that they can achieve their goals – both long term career goals and short term make-that-5-mile-run-without-passing-out goals. And I love their comradely, one cadet worried about whether another is going to make it, and promises to be there to help the "weaker link" get through the challenges & obstacles.

I don't usually ramble like this. But I was so impressed and uplifted after working with your young men and their commander. I get excited to think that, thanks to this opportunity, these young men will be making my world a better place. I'm proud to know them, and I'd be happy to help them pursue their career dreams in any manner possible. I don't know how structured your program is, but I'd be happy to present or mediate an interactive program on facets of leadership and goal-setting, lasting one to three hours (on a volunteer basis of course).

Sincerely, Marcia Tasma

P.S. Please feel free to share any or all of this with the "Powers-that-Be".

Also, the names of the outstanding cadets who worked with me are:

Casey Perreira, Alpha (the quiet project completer)

Lamar Gates, Charlie (the natural leader and project organizer)

Joshua Alford, Alpha (the good-natured hard worker)

Joshua Malone, Charlie (my right-hand man)

Brent Crutchfield, Bravo (the eager-beaver for future military)

Michael Easterling, Charlie (the enthusiastic team player) LTC Hosey (the concrete covered marshmallow – I suspect)

LTC Hosey,

I just wanted to stop by and say hello, and let you know how my life has been since I graduated from the Academy: I dont know if you remember, but I left for the army 10 days after I graduated from the Academy. I went to basic training and just by luck I survived, but I loved every minute of it. I went to FT Lee for AIT and became a 92Y. After that I got orders to come to FT Hood and was sent to 1st Air Cav Brigade and not long after I got there I married my wonderful husband SSG Jeffrey Farr ( he was a SPC at that time), then we came down on deployment orders so I went to Iraq and 10 months into the tour we found out they extended us for 3 more long months. Which was ok I didnt mind; I love my job. Not long after I got home I found out that my husband and I were expecting a little boy, he was born 1 NOV 07 and 10 days later my husband left for Iraq. On 11 FEB 08 I came down on orders to go to my husband's unit and I am here now in 3rd Armored Cavarly Regiment (3ACR) and I will be leaving here in the next few days for my 2nd tour overseas. BUT I LOVE THE ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I not only want to say thank you to you but to everyone there for teaching me the the key tools that I needed to survive in this crazy world. Without the Youth Challenge Academy I dont think that I would be doing the things I am doing now. Thank you for giving me my second chance and my boost to help me make it to where I am now...............................................

Thank you, Jessica Farr (Cadet Duggan) Cycle 23

If you are a ChalleNGe success story or your child is a ChalleNGe success story, we'd love to publish your story on our website. Also, if you have joined any branch of the military; we would like a digital photo to put in our online photo gallery. Please email your success stories or digital photos to Lieutenant Colonel Rickey Hosey at rhosey@msyouthchallenge.org