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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF) congratulates Mr. Joseph Lockhart, a graduate of the Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan, Ky. for being selected as the November Cadet of the Month. Mr. Lockhart will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from BAE Systems, generous supporters of NGYF and the ChalleNGe Program.
“At the National Guard Youth Foundation, we are proud to support outstanding graduates of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy and help them as they take their next steps in life through scholarships, internships and job opportunities,” said Louis A. Cabrera, President of the National Guard Youth Foundation.
“Mr. Lockhart was selected as the recipient of our November Cadet of the Month scholarship because his character and determination stood out among the thousands of cadets who’ve graduated from the 35 ChalleNGe sites over the past year. We are very proud of Mr. Lockhart and wish him the best of luck as he continues his path of success.”
Read Mr. Lockhart’s ChalleNGe story here:
Like a lot of teenagers, I grew tired of school and quit attending. I wasn’t really a bad or troubled kid. I have good parents who work and I have a nice home life; I just got behind in school and gave up.
The ChalleNGe academy offered a small classroom environment where they could work with cadets one-on-one and give extra help. When we had trouble with certain areas they provided help, including tutoring during the evenings after class.
During ChalleNGe, they scheduled a visit to Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC). During the tour, we viewed the different vocations offered, got a chance to visit with and question SKCTC staff, took the COMPASS test and applied for financial aid. This experience was a tremendous boost in helping me decide what career I wanted to pursue and had I not gone on the visit I may have never thought about attending college.
The Kentucky National Guard Youth ChalleNGe academies are currently recruiting for a January 12, 2014 deadline.
To find out more about the Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy at Fort Knox call 1-877-599-6884 or email dorothy.m.heffelfinger.nfg@mail.mil
To find out more about the Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan call 1-855-596-4927 or email melinda.f.dillman.nfg@mail.mil
Photos by Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
SPARTA, Ky. — A small group of Challenge Academy cadets were honored during the NASCAR race weekend at Kentucky Speedway, June 28-30, 2013. Their attendance was due in part to the growing relationship between Hendrick Motorsports and the National Guard Youth Foundation. None of them had ever been to a race of this scale before. Regardless of whether each was a Jeff Gordon fan or a Kasey Kahne fan, they all were in awe of the 88 Chevrolet adorned with the logo of the Youth Foundation. From the moment Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the green flag on Sunday, their excitement did not falter through each and every left hand turn.
Dallas Voge, a graduate of Bluegrass Challenge Academy checks for guidance in leading the color guard prior to presenting the colors for the pre-race festivities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Maxx Gay, a cadet with North Carolina’s Tarheel Challenge Academy and Sarah Heck, a graduate of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Challenge Academy took photos with Kaley Caperton, singer/songwriter and national spokesperson for the National Guard Youth Foundation, in front of an American Flag display featured in Caperton’s music video, Red, White and Beautiful. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Click here to see Kaley’s music video on CMT.com.
Appalachian Challenge Academy graduate, Rome Meade, (right) said meeting Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a highlight of the great weekend. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Sarah Heck, (left), a graduate of Bluegrass Challenge Academy was glad to share her Challenge story with two U.S. Senators, Mitch McConnell from Kentucky and Mary Landrieu from Louisiana. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht)
Challenge Academy graduates, Sparky Edwards (left) and Cole Davis took a peak inside the 88 Chevrolet during a garage tour on Saturday. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
Rome Meade participated in a press conference on Friday with Earnhardt Jr., Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini and Gail Dady, President of the Borad of Directors for the Youth Foundation. Meade had no idea he would be the face of the Challenge program on this day. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht)
Dallas Voge from the Bluegrass Challenge Academy snapped a few quick photo on pit road prior to the race on Sunday. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
It’s not everyday, you can just take a stroll down pit road between race cars on race day. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
After strolling down pit road, it was time for business and marching the colors to the start/finish line for the National Anthem. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
The cadets last stop on their exciting weekend was high above the track in their seats in a suite provided by the Youth Foundation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
To see all the photos from the weekend, click here.
To learn more about the National Guard Youth Foundation, visit their website, www.ngyf.org.
Story by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Kentucky’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini joins Gail Dady of the National Guard Youth Foundation, Louisiana’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis and Challenge Program cadets for a group photo with the 88 Chevrolet on pit road prior to the start of the Quaker State 400 NASCAR race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., June 30, 2013. The National Guard Youth Foundation teamed up with Hendrick Motorsports to race the 88 with a special logo for the race at Kentucky Speedway. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
SPARTA, Ky. — Persistent rain showers did little to dampen the spirits and excitement of a group of teens at the Kentucky Speedway this past weekend. The young men and women are current and former cadets with the National Guard Youth Challenge programs. They were given a full-access pass to all NASCAR had to offer at this year’s Quaker State 400 race at the track in Sparta, Ky.
As part of the National Guard Youth Foundation - the national nonprofit that supports Challenge - and the Challenge program’s relationship with Hendrick
Motorsports, several cadets, foundation officials and members of the National Guard were invited to the track to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. drive the number 88 Chevrolet with a special National Guard Youth Foundation logo on his car.
To see more photos from the race weekend, click here.
Challenge program cadets receive a garage tour from Hendrick Motorsports prior to the running of the Quaker State 400 NASCAR race at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., June 29, 2013. The tour was part of a full weekend of race access for the cadets as part of the relationship between Hendrick Motorsports and the National Guard Youth Foundation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“We are honored and deeply appreciate the opportunity to partner with Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to raise awareness of the Challenge program,” said Gail Dady, National Guard Youth Foundation Board of Directors President. “The Hendrick Motorsports team went to an extraordinary level to make this an unforgettable experience for the cadets.”
The excitement began Friday morning with a press conference announcing the sponsorship and highlighting the Challenge programs. Rome Meade, a graduate of the Appalachian Challenge Academy in Harlan, Ky., sat with Dady, Earnhardt Jr., and Kentucky’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini in the press room at the track for the interaction with media. Meade said he was proud to have Earnhardt drive for the program, acknowledging that many more people will know about the program after the race.
In between the rain drops, Meade and his fellow cadets were treated to garage tours, a meet and greet with Earnhardt, Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and also University of Kentucky Basketball coach John Calipari.
During the meet and greet, Earnhardt told the cadets and the crowd that the relationship he has had with the National Guard has been one he has had a lot of fun with and takes very seriously. He said he was honored to drive his car with the foundation logo in the race and remains excited to be a part of the program.
Jeremy Suhor, a cadet with the Louisiana Youth Challenge program watches the Quaker State 400 NASCAR race from his seat at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., June 30, 2013. A life-long race fan, the race was Suhor’s first in person. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“This is a great opportunity for us to tell more people about the Youth Foundation,” he said. “What it’s about, what it does, what it entails and how many kids’ lives it’s helped turned around, and the effect it’s had on the communities.”
Although Earnhardt didn’t drive the car into victory lane on Sunday, the clouds did part long enough for the cadets to enjoy the full race a day late. They were still trackside presenting the colors for the pre-race festivities and had the time to walk pit road and take some memorable snapshots with their favorite cars. The cadets eventually found a front and center seat for the race in a suite above the start/finish line of the track.
“I never expected to be at my first NASCAR race,” said New Orleans native, Jeremy Suhor, a cadet at the Louisiana Youth Challenge Program. “I’ve had a lot of great opportunities since I’ve been in Challenge.”
“The weekend has been awesome,” said Meade. “It’s one of the best experiences of my life.”
To learn more about the National Guard Youth Foundation, visit their website www.ngyf.org.
Story courtesy of Operation UNITE
Seven cadets from the National Guard’s Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in Harlan assisted with Operation UNITE’s Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball camp. Pictured with the cadets are former University of Kentucky all-star Jeff Sheppard, left, and Dan Robinett, right, ACA logistics and operations supervisor. (Photo courtesy of Operation UNITE)
HARLAN, Ky. — When cadets from the National Guard’s Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy (ACA) took to the basketball court at Middlesboro High last week their poise and demeanor were easy to spot.
Over the next three hours, the seven Honor Platoon members provided encouragement and mentorship to the 182 participants in Operation UNITE’s Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball camp with former University of Kentucky all-star Jeff Sheppard.
“We thought it would be a good idea to show our cadets an opportunity to work with younger kids so they can be a positive influence. It’s a good opportunity for them to open up and to interact,� Dan Robinett, logistics and operations supervisor for the ACA. “They were excited to take part in it.�
An even larger number of cadets is expected at the free Shoot Hoops camp in Leslie County on June 17.
The ACA recently joined with UNITE in support of its youth initiatives. It has proven to be a perfect partnership.
“Operation UNITE believes the ACA program services the needs of many young people in our region,� said Dan Smoot, president/CEO. “We are happy to partner with the National Guard in spreading the word about the many benefits of this alternative educational program.�
And, according to the cadets, opportunities like Shoot Hoops Not Drugs provides a break from their daily routines.
As a senior at the University of Kentucky, Sheppard was named the NCAA’s Final Four Most Valuable Player in the Wildcats’ 1997-98 National Championship season. He would later go on to play one season with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and 3 years in Italy.
The 22-week ACA program is offered free for youth between the ages of 16 and 18 who may be working to overcome problems in their lives. In addition to providing an education alternative, the course is designed to instill the same skills, values and self-discipline necessary to succeed in today’s society
Daily activities are structured around a military concept that includes a focus on discipline, integrity, teamwork, physical fitness and perform at least 40 hours of community service, Robinett said.
In addition to Shoot Hoops, the ACA is involved with the Harlan County Hooked On Fishing-Not On Drugs monthly events. Cadets have also assisted with PRIDE, local festivals, the Harlan County Little League, Harlan County School System, Southeast Community and Technical College, and the Harlan County Animal Shelter.
The Challenge Program began in 15 states in July 1993, and has operated in Kentucky since July 1999. The ACA began changing the lives of young people in July 2012. The current class has 59 members.
For more information or to obtain an application for the next class, which begins July 14, contact the Academy Admissions Office by calling toll-free 1-855-596-4927 or visit their website at https://www.ngycp.org/site/state/ky2/.
For more information about Operation UNITE visit their website at www.operationunite.org.
