Florida Youth program to graduate 164 teens Tuesday
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Office Phone: (904) 823-0166
Florida Youth program to graduate 164 teens Tuesday
WHAT: The Florida Youth Challenge Academy, a program designed to lead, train and mentor at-risk youth, will graduate 164 teens from its 23rd class during a military ceremony.
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Thrasher Horne Center for the Arts, 283 College Dr., Orange Park, Fla.
Guest speaker for Tuesday’s event is Maj. Gen. Emmett R. Titshaw Jr., The Adjutant General of Florida.
Florida’s Youth ChalleNGe Academy is operated by the Florida Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Designed on a military model, 16- to 19-year-old high school dropouts encounter a rigorous five-and-a-half month residential phase. The Academy is geared toward promoting adult responsibilities, values and basic lifestyle changes. Each youth experiences a demanding, highly regimented, motivational climate covering the components of academic excellence, community service, job skills, leadership and physical fitness.
Upon graduation from the in-residence phase, each student is assigned a mentor who provides personal guidance and support. In order to successfully complete the program, all students are required to either pursue higher education or gain full-time employment. For additional information contact the academy at (904) 682-4000 or visit www.ngycp.org/FL.
Since Florida’s program began in 2001, more than 3,000 cadets have graduated from the residential phase of the program.
This will be the last graduation for Academy director retired Command Sgt. Maj. Danny Brabham. Retired Sgt. Maj. James Ransom, the current deputy director will take over as the new director of the Academy.
Graduating cadets are from the following regions: approximately 100 from Northeast Florida, 30 from Central Florida, 25 from South Florida, 3 from the Tallahassee area and 5 from West Florida.
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SFC Blair Heusdens Public Affairs Specialist Florida National Guard Office (904) 823-0113 email: blair.l.heusdens.mil@mail.mil www.floridaguard.army.mil www.facebook.com/FloridaNationalGuard
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