Crosley graduates from ChallENge Academy
by Greene County Daily World on Dec.22, 2009, under Jasonville
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor
Greene County Daily World
Cadet Wesley Crosley of Jasonville graduated from Hoosier Youth ChallENge Academy on Saturday at Franklin Community High School after a completing a five-month program at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh.
Submitted photo --- RECENT GRADUATE: U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) (left), Cadet Wesley Crosley (middle) and Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard pose for a photo after Saturday's graduation ceremony at Franklin Community High School
More than 70 cadets from across the state completed the program, sponsored by the Indiana Army National Guard, that began last August.
The next session will begin Jan. 10.
The National Guard Youth ChallENge Program, a preventive rather than remedial at-risk youth program, targets participants who are unemployed, drug-free and law-free high school dropouts, 16 to 18 years of age. Select 19 year olds who will graduate before turning 20 are also eligible.
Core components of the program are
* Citizenship
* Academic excellence (GED/high school diploma attainment)
* Life-coping skills
* Service to community
* Health and hygiene
* Job skills training
* Leadership/followership
* Physical training.
The 22-week residential program is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with a specially trained member from each youth’s community.
This award-winning program has been recognized as one of the nation’s most effective and cost efficient programs for targeting youth who are at the greatest risk for substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency, and criminal activity.
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program is one of the most cost-effective programs for high-risk youth in the nation. It costs approximately $14,000 for each youth to complete the program. These funds are provided by federal and state partnerships.
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program began as a 10-state pilot program in 1993 by an act of Congress. In 1998, following a comprehensive evaluation, Congress approved the ChalleNGe program as a permanent program. Since then, the program has grown to include 30 sites in 25 states and Puerto Rico. Since then, the program has grown to 34 ChalleNGe programs in 29 states.
For more information about the program go to www.ngycp.org .
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