By Lt. Col. Cindi King

South Carolina National Guard

Before hundreds of family and friends, 65 graduates were recognized for completing a rigorous 22-week program.

“You will have many more steps, goals, and accomplishments ahead of you,” said SC Youth Challenge Academy. Director La-Tonya Reed.

“I encourage you to keep going, stay focused, and to bring your dreams into reality.”

The Youth Challenge Academy is designed for at-risk high school students.

Its mission is to reclaim the lives of high school dropouts, producing graduates with the values, life skills, education and self-discipline they need to succeed.

Eligibility includes being a legal US resident 16 to 18 years old, not a convicted felon or under felony indictment, and drug free.

As a National Guard sponsored program, students have no obligation for military service but gain the benefits of physical fitness, discipline and the structure of a military environment.

The academy operates at the Mc-Crady Training Center at Fort Jackson.

A Post Job Challenge was recently established for a five-month Aiken Tech program to learn such skills as welding, manufacturing and patient care.

“So much of the success for our graduates is to continue the lessons they learned from Youth Challenge and advance them to their next goals,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Van McCarty, the deputy Adjutant General.

“The Post-Job Challenge has changed lives for our cadets in knowing they do not need to return to difficult circumstances but can become employed, engaged, and contributing members in their communities.”

Information about the program and the application process can be found at scyouthchallenge.com website.