KINGWOOD, W. Va. –
The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy (MCA) graduated 148 cadets as a part of Class 53 today.
Class 53 began with a total of 197 enrolled cadets. Eighty-eight percent, or 130 of the remaining 148 cadets who successfully completed the program, are graduating from the MCA with a high school diploma. Of those graduating, 47 percent (69 cadets) plan to join the workforce, 15 percent (22 cadets) plan to join the military, 24 percent (36 cadets) plan to attend a vocational/technical program and 14 percent (21 cadets) plan to go onto a four-year college program.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the lives of these young people and for the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Program as well,” said Maj. Gen. James A. Hoyer, the Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard. “These young men and women are tremendous examples of overcoming adversity and changing the dynamic not only for their future, but for the future of West Virginia communities at large. The transformations that take place at MCA continue to astound us and we are seeing even more positive, long-term benefits for cadets through the Mountaineer Job ChalleNGe Program. I cannot underscore how proud we are of each cadet standing among us here today and how vitally important this program is for the State of West Virginia.”
The Mountaineer Job ChalleNGe Program, which offers specialized job training for graduates of MCA, graduated 14 cadets from its first cohort as a part of the day’s ceremonies. Cadets took part in training toward industry and vocational certification in health care career fields such as phlebotomy, manufacturing technology or pre-apprenticeship training.
West Virginia is one of three locations selected by the Department of Defense to host this initiative, which provides an additional 22 weeks in residence for up to 100 at-risk youth each year.
Class 53 represents 31 different counties throughout the Mountain State, with Kanawha County having the highest enrollment for the course with 35 cadets.
Throughout the 22-week program, cadets provided more than 8,345 hours of community service through 113 different projects, a recognized value of more than $212,219.
The mission of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is to train and mentor selected at-risk youth to become contributing members of society using the Eight Core Components in a quasi-military environment during a 22-week residential and one-year post-residential follow-up program. It is a free volunteer program for West Virginia youth ages 16 to 18 years old who are educationally at-risk.
Since its inception in 1993, the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy has graduated 4,663 cadets from the program with 1,704 earning their high school diploma.
Award winners from the program are as follows:
This award recognizes the Top Over-All Cadet for the entire 22-week residential phase of the ChalleNGe Program. This Cadet will have demonstrated leadership, academic improvement, and effort in physical training on the Progress Reports.
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ROBERT C. BYRD DISTINGUISHED CADET AWARD
Cadet David Turner
Charleston, Kanawha County
Son of Helen and Fletcher Gist of Dunbar and Demetrius Turner of Houston, Texas
ADJUTANT GENERAL’S AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Cadet Joshua See
Burlington, Mineral County
Son of James and Rhea See of Burlington
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Cadet Brandon Johnson
Inwood, Berkeley County
Grandson of Susan Everhart of Inwood
CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Cadet Dakota Armstrong
Huntington, Cabell County
Son of Misty Cremeans and Elmer Armstrong of Huntington
ACADEMIC CHALLENGE AWARD
Cadet Joseph Smith
Saint Albans, Kanawha County
Nephew of Jessie and Joanna Reynolds of Bowie, Texas, and son of Elana Smith-Kearney of Saint Albans
MOST IMPROVED CADET AWARD
Cadet Chevelle Cook
Reedsville, Preston County
Daughter of Charles Cook and the late Dawn Cook of Reedsville
“ESPRIT DE CORPS” AWARD
Cadet David Turner
Dunbar, Kanawha County
Son of Helen and Fletcher Gist of Dunbar and Demetrius Turner of Houston, Texas
“IRON MIKE” AWARD FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS
Cadet Malachi Adkins
Caldwell, Greenbrier County
Son of Kenneth and Jaclyn Adkins of Caldwell