Courtesy Photo | Marianne Boyd, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, Mayor Vincent C. Gray,...... read more read more
By Tech. Sgt. Craig Clapper
WASHINGTON - The District of Columbia National Guard celebrated the opening of the new Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy July 10 with a ribbon cutting and slicing of a ceremonial cake.
In attendance were D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and a whole host of D.C. National Guard members and past graduates from the Youth ChalleNGe Academy.
“For these youth [176 enrolled cadets], who for whatever reason didn’t finish school or have been in trouble with the criminal justice system, this will be a second chance for them to contribute to our city and our society,” said Mayor Gray.
The National Youth ChalleNGe program was created in 1993 as a preventive, rather than remedial, program geared towards at-risk youth ages 16 to 18 who have not completed a traditional high school program.
The program is cost-free to participants and is funded by local and federal resources. Many of the graduates go on to higher education and/or enter the workplace in career occupations.
An estimated 14 percent enter the military, including the D.C. National Guard, bringing the positive impact of the program full circle.
D.C. Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Antonio Shaw, one of more than 110,000 youths from 35 nationwide programs, graduated from the program in 2004 and attended the ceremony today as a self-professed changed man and current member of the D.C. National Guard.
“In ’04, I had yet another charge on my record and the judge let me enter this program. It ended up changing my life, and I’m grateful for the chance to turn things around and be the person I am today” said Shaw. “This program motivates you and guides you. I truly love this program.”
Previously, a limited number of D.C. students attended Maryland’s Freestate Academy.
The new academy is bigger in size - 14 buildings sprawl out over 30 acres - and offers more district youth the chance to attend due to the proximity of its location.
The initial class starts July 14 with 176 cadets enrolled and ready to learn.
Army Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, D.C. National Guard commanding general, believes every youth deserves a second chance and is proud of the efforts of the DCNG in helping D.C. youth realize there is life after dropping out of high school.
“This academy is a new lease on life for the youth of D.C., but also for the Oak Hill facility,” said Schwartz. “This campus was once a jail and sat abandoned. Now hundreds of D.C. youth will find a second chance to put their lives on track towards college, work and productive citizenship.”
| Date Taken: | 07.10.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2013 17:27 |
| Story ID: | 110008 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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