Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Leticia Samuels | NEW LONDON, N.C. – (from left to right) Charles Knott (father), Cadet Adam Knott and...... read more read more
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NEW LONDON, N.C. – Parents, mentors and family gathered at the Stanley County Agri-Civic Center in Albemarle, North Carolina to celebrate the graduates of class 51 during a ceremony marking the completion of the life-correcting Tarheel Challenge Academy.
TCA is designed to provide at-risk teens with a second chance to turn their lives around and is a quasi-military program that instills discipline, structure, and values similar to what soldiers experience during basic training.
“I feel extremely happy to be able to share this day with you graduating from the academy,” said Rep. Wayne Sasser, of N.C. House District 67. “I’ll be honest with you, I’m not sure if I could have went through what you have endured, learned, changed your ways and succeeded, but it paid off. Thanks for your perseverance, dedication and you need to take this day and enjoy it. Be happy as we all celebrate what you have accomplished.”
The TCA full-time staff, retired service members, commandant and director all contribute to the success of the program. Also heavily involved with the cadets’ resident course, are the mentors. In addition to providing guidance during the resident phase, mentors help graduates complete a year-long follow up to continue their education, start a full-time job or even join the military.
“They are such a huge piece of our program,” said retired Lt. Col. Maury Williams, director of the New London TCA program. “Sometimes kids will tell their mentors more about them and what’s going on within their life than they will people that they know; specifically people who are in authority over them.”
Not only do citizen soldiers fulfill their call to duty supporting the federal and state missions, but Guardsmen like retired Brig Gen. Kenneth Beard, also find ways to give their time to support the surrounding community.
“As a brigadier general, I got to participate in one of the Salemburg graduations, and I have always been familiar with the academy,” said Beard, sponsor to Cadet Knott.
Beard said he is a family friend and godfather to Knott. Beard’s wife and Adam’s mother were college roommates and kept in touch long after graduating. He also said he offered counsel to the Knott family in the decision to enroll him into TCA.
“He needed the environment and an opportunity with the people involved in his life helping him understand the importance of his decisions and getting him the means by which to see the results of that and then play it out,” said Beard. “That is what the Tarheel Challenge is all about. His issues were about the way he was living his life. This is an important mark for him to realize and understand that there is responsibility around growing up, and he needed to exercise a little bit of patience. One of the things I told him is ‘engage the brain before you engage the mouth.’”
Knott and many other at-risk teens like him are one of the main reasons the TCA program was established in surrounding communities.
“It was a rough start for me,” said Knott. “It is definitely not for everybody. It brings kids from all different cultures and social classes. It was an eye-opening experience for me.”
Cadets undergo a rigorous 22-week resident course where they are exposed to cultural awareness, conflict resolution, self-building exercises, life skills, and teamwork.
“I started getting a bad reputation around my school,” said Knott. “I knew how smart I was, but I wanted other kids to see it. I knew I needed help, and I couldn’t do it alone. My mentor; he is like family. He encouraged me the whole way. He sent me letters every week.”
Knott reflected on a time during his resident course when he was unable to leave during his mentor visit.
“At one point on one of the mentor dates, I couldn’t go off campus,” said Knott. “He brought firewood, a tent, and hamburgers to grill out there in the TCA parking lot. That is when I realized how much he actually loves me. He treats me like his own son.”
The TCA program is also open to the community who are willing to donate their time and experience. Patricia Chandler, the public information officer for TCA in New London, mentioned that there was a need for another one of the cadets in class 51. This inspired Beau Linker, a pastor of the New London community.
“Youth ministry is something we are really passionate about,” said Linker. “We have been to a couple of the graduations but not really hands on. When Trish came to us and said that there was a young lady that didn’t have a mentor, we jumped at the chance to help. It has been a real blessing to get to meet Heather and her family.”
The Linkers had the opportunity to meet and mentor a cadet for the first time even though they started later in the program.
“You don’t meet teenagers like that,” said Linker. “You can tell they appreciate their second chance and a new lease on life.” Our cadet [Heather] really felt that, and she exceeded here. We have just been incredibly proud of her. It has been neat to see; just in the short time that we have known each other, her progression and growth.”
The stressful environment causes cadets to adapt in a short time, which could warrant additional help and influence.
“There some really nice people,” said Heather Forbes, a cadet assigned to class 51. “They helped get a bunch of stuff I needed and giving me the emotional boost that I needed to complete the program.”
Forbes mentioned joining the Air Force and taking up a degree in Chemistry as a way forward. She also said this program helped her in ways she may not have found going through the public school system.
“The concept of Challenge itself is a good program as long as you have candidates willing to put in the work,” said Forbes. “It’s helped push me through. I have graduated early with more than I would have. I graduated with honors and two points below the valedictorian. Back at my regular school, I probably wouldn’t have even been on the radar.”
The Tarheel Challenge Academy, sponsored by the North Carolina National Guard, marked its grand opening in New London in September 2015. Since its inception, the community has shown its support.
Cadets work toward attaining their General Education Development (GED) and have the opportunity to take the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery exam, the Scholastic Assessment Test and participate in community service and fundraisers. This TCA program has a sister location in Salemburg that has been in operation for over 25 years and graduated over 5,000 Cadets.
“The community is awesome,” said Williams. “We love New London and everything about the community. Everybody between New London and Albemarle has been so supportive. They believe in our mission.”
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2019 15:00 |
| Story ID: | 315054 |
| Location: | NC, US |
| Web Views: | 343 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NCNG: Mentors turning negatives into positives at Tarheel ChalleNGe, by SFC Leticia Samuels, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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