Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Guard's Youth Challenge Set For Next 100 School Students

Arkansas National Guard's Youth Challenge Program is preparing for the next class of 100 students, which will commence August 4.

Youth Challenge is a federally funded program designed for young men and women ages 16-18, who are high school dropouts, unemployed, drug free and not currently involved with the criminal justice system. Previous legal problems do not exempt youngsters from participating in the program.

To operate the program for fiscal 1997, Arkansas has received a budget off $2,620,814.

Taught by state certiifed instructors, Youth Challenge provides a minimum of 200 hours of instruction in basic high school math, reading and writing skills. The course is offered at no cost to students. Books, backpacks and uniforms are furnished and students receive $15 each week or personal expenses. Students may also earn a stipend up to $1,000 to further their academic or vocational training.

Since September 1993, Arkansas National Guard and the Arkansas Department of Education have helped 570 young men and women high school dropouts prepare themselves for the opportunity of a lifetime, the road to their future.

Once cadets receive their high school diplomas they are eligible for a work-study program. Youth Challenge students are presently working in military offices, an elementary school, a retirement center, hardware store, lawn and garden store, and other businesses eager to hire bright young leaders of tomorrow.

That quality of leadership is constantly improving as course directors find ways to enhance training with the help of community involvement. Presently, Youth Challenge is working with UCA at Conway to have their students come in and work with Youth Challenge cadets one-on-one in a tutorial program.

The `challenge' doesn't stop with graduation. A follow-on mentor program places volunteer counselors within the students' hometown communities. Like a big brother or big sister, these adults advise graduate students on how to establish themselves in the community and offer suggestions for continued education or employment goals.

The 1997 Arkansas Legislature adopted Act 439 to allow school districts to retain funds allocated for students who elect to attend Youth Challenge. This type of arrangement forms a partnership between school districts and Youth Challenge by creating an alternate method in providing educational needs, discipline and structure for youths at risk.

The legislature proposed a resolution to the U.S. Congress and to selected representatives at the federal level, for Youth Challenge to be moved from a pilot to a permanent training program.

Over 85 percent of students who attend Youth Challenge graduate; over 75 percent receive a General Education Diploma. Students returning to high school have increased their grade level by an average of 2.2 years.

Youth Challenge has the highest percentage of GED successful completions than any other at-risk youth program.

For more information or to get applications for Youth Challenge, visit your local National Guard armory or call toll free 1-800-814-8453.