KINGWOOD, W.Va. –
The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy graduated 40 cadets as a part of Class 55 today.
Because of the pandemic, in March, MCA was shut down and cadets were sent home with the option of completing their studies remotely, dropping out or returning for a future class. Today’s graduates are a mix of returning and new cadets into the program.
“I talk every year about the spirit of the young people who graduate from ChalleNGe and how they are examples to their fellow West Virginians in overcoming obstacles and setting standards,” said Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, the Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard. “But this class in particular has faced a multitude of challenges with the pandemic and they have risen above these challenges to achieve something truly remarkable. I could not be more proud of each cadet graduating today and what they represent. They are a testament of dedication and resilience and I know they will carry forward their experiences and make lasting contributions to this state and our Nation.”
Class 55 has 33 cadets, or 82.5 percent, graduating the program with a high school diploma. Of those graduating, 40 percent (16 cadets) plan to join the workforce, seven percent (3 cadets) plan to join the military, 48 percent (19 cadets) plan to attend a vocational/technical program and five percent (2 cadets) plan to go onto a four-year college program.
Class 55 represents 16 different counties throughout the Mountain State, with Kanawha County having the highest enrollment for the course with eight cadets.
Throughout the 22-week program, cadets provided more than 1,834 hours of community service through nine different projects, a recognized value of more than $49,884.
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 4,783 cadets from the program with 1,770 receiving 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 Hannah Atkins
Nitro, Kanawha County
Granddaughter of Terri Markham of Nitro and daughter of Anthony Adkins of Saint Albans and Jessica Hensley of Poca
ADJUTANT GENERAL’S AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Cadet Alexis Robinson
Charleston, Kanawha County
Daughter of Michael and Kelly Robinson of Charleston
LEADERSHIP AWARD
Cadet Evan Turley
Parkersburg, Wood County
Son of Sarah Turley of Parkersburg
CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Cadet Miah Jordan
Charleston, Kanawha County
Daughter of Kisha Sutton and Jeremiah Jordan of Charleston
ACADEMIC CHALLENGE AWARD
Cadet Nathan Wheeler
Deep Water, Fayette County
Son of George and Rebecca Wheeler of Deep Water
MOST IMPROVED CADET AWARD
Cadet Jayden Churchill
Cross Lanes, Kanawha County
Son of Brandy and Justin Waybright of Cross Lanes
“ESPRIT DE CORPS” AWARD
Cadet Hannah Atkins
Nitro, Kanawha County
Granddaughter of Terri Markham of Nitro and daughter of Anthony Adkins of Saint Albans and Jessica Hensley of Poca
“IRON MIKE” AWARD FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS
Cadet Alexis Robinson
Charleston, Kanawha County
Daughter of Michael and Kelly Robinson of Charleston