Photo By Capt. Emerson Marcus | The Elko County Readiness Center, formerly the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science...... read more read more
Lauren Schulman hit the ground running this January as the first Nevada Youth ChalleNGe director in the state’s history.
There’s a reason for that — she has a lot of work to do.
The goal: turn the Elko County Readiness Center in Carlin, Nevada, formerly the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy, into a “top-performing Youth ChalleNGe program,” as she said, with classes set to start January 2021.
“We’re fortunate to have the gold standard campus,” said Schulman, who has worked in the Texas National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe since 1994, most recently reaching the position of program director at the campus in Eagle Lake, Texas. “I’m really excited about being in Carlin and being able to train cadets in an environment that is not only safe but palatable to learn in.”
Nevada's program will be called the "Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy."
Youth ChalleNGe is a voluntary, 17-month (five-month residential) coed program designed to assist 16-18 year old high school dropouts and at-risk students graduate high school on time. It includes educational and life skill components, funded 75 percent with federal money, contingent the state shares 25 percent of the costs.
During the 2019 Legislative Session in Carson City, lawmakers, including Gov. Steve Sisolak, approved state funding, a half million dollars annually for the program, matched with $1.5 million in federal funds. Initial funds will go toward renovation of the Elko County Readiness Center and hiring of staff, which begins this summer, Schulman said.
Schulman anticipates a staff of about 50, including an operations staff of 22 team leaders, four shift supervisors, one commandant and one deputy commandant. Additionally, the programs staff will include a coordinator, chow hall staff, recruiters and the post-residential team who tracks cadet progress after they leave for the yearlong, post-residence portion of the course.
Schulman received the proverbial Youth ChalleNGe torch from Grace Nichols and Heather Goulding, affectionately described as the “Tsunami Sisters” by Nevada’s former adjutant general, Brig. Gen. William Burks. Nichols and Goulding diligently worked with Nevada military officials to convince state lawmakers to approve the program in 2019. For their efforts, they were named one of six finalists for the Reno Gazette Journal “Citizen of the Year.”
While Nichols and Goulding successfully pushed the program through the legislative process, it’s up to Schulman to stand up the program in Nevada, the first of its kind in the state.
With the in-state program, Schulman says each class cycle will set a goal of about 100 male students and 50 female students.
“We want to makes sure we are meeting the needs of the state in a coed environment,” she said. “This is a great target to start with and within the first three-to-five years we can look to grow, but as we get started and train new staff, it’s important to stay focused and make sure we are bringing in the right students.”
Schulman described the program as a “scholarship.” Given state funds are used for the program, it’s important to accept cadet applicants who are going to take it seriously, she said. Given its location, the program will fall under the directive of the Elko County School District, but applications will be accepted statewide.
“We want to be good stewards of state money and accept those who have the grit to stay committed throughout the program,” she said.
When asked if she is worried about the remoteness of the campus in Elko County — one of the reasons the UNR Fire Science Academy did not succeed in the same location — Schulman was emphatic.
“There are absolutely advantages from the remoteness of the campus — no distractions,” she said. “Most of these kids haven’t climbed a tree in their lives. Having the opportunity to go on a hike or enjoy the fresh air is new and foreign to many of them. It’s a huge benefit for our program, and it’s the perfect place for us to make all kinds of noise at 0500.”
Schulman, an Air Force brat who studied Marine Biology at Texas A&M at Galveston, changed her career path as she began working on Youth ChalleNGe in Texas in the mid-1990s and “fell in love with the program and less in love with the degree plan.”
After two decades working in Texas and Washington, she’s ready for a new location and, literally, a new challenge, she said.
“There was no reason to leave Texas,” said Schulman, who was announced as Nevada’s Youth ChalleNGe director last fall. “I’m hungry. I’m ready for the opportunity to help a different state. The level of support has been amazing, but we need that to continue. Nevada not only needs this, it deserves this.”
| Date Taken: | 01.28.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 01.28.2020 13:57 |
| Story ID: | 360681 |
| Location: | CARSON CITY, NV, US |
| Web Views: | 1,408 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, New director eyes ‘top-performing Youth ChalleNGe program’ in Nevada, by Capt. Emerson Marcus, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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