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Posted: 10:02 PM Mar 15, 2010
Challenge Academy Strives to Bring Out Students' Best
For some it's motivation and for others it's structure, but finding your niche is a goal one school hopes to achieve by catering to those students who are on the fence.
Reporter: Brooks Jarosz Email Address: brooks.jarosz@wsaz.com |
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13 Comments 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- For some it's motivation and for others it's structure, but finding your niche is a goal one school hopes to achieve by catering to those students who are on the fence.
The National Guard regularly tries to interest students in their Challenge Academy.
"It's do your best," admissions director Russ Sterling said. "You don't have to be the strongest guy to make it through the Challenge Academy, and you don't have to be the smartest you just have to be someone that's willing to give your best effort."
The program is 22 weeks long for at-risk youth. The goal is to change and become a better person.
"My life was just crazy," Joseph Crawford said. "I didn't listen to anything I was told. I did pretty much whatever I wanted to," he said. "I fought with my parents a lot and I didn't have any respect whatsoever."
It is teachers, family and friends who saw potential and opportunity for these kids to make a change.
Folks with the Challenge Academy says they provide an education in life skills different from high school, with discipline and structure at the top of the priority list.
"They've taught me leadership skills -- how to be a good leader," Crawford said. "They've talked to me a lot about integrity."
Sterling said, "Leadership, fellowship, hygiene, community service -- those things that make the whole person a strong citizen."
Citizens that the National Guard hopes will act as examples for the future.
Thirty-five percent of kids who enroll in the program don't complete it. For those up to the challenge, however, they can get more information by visiting wvchallenge.org.
Latest Comments
Your kid will get more from this program than they will ever get at public school. Be prepared for an adult to graduate from the challenge academy. If you send your out of control teen, make them finish the program. Some will call home begging you to come get them. Crying & promising to change and do anything you ask of them, stay strong and do not beleive it. Make them finish this great program. Public schools are not for everyone, make the call and put your child on the right path. P.S. it is a drug free environment. Unlike public school, everyone gets drug tested, everyone dresses the same and there are not social "clicks". One taxpayer funded program that is not a waste of money.
Outstanding program. My son went in January 2009. He was 16 at the time. One of the best decisions my wife and I ever FORCED (yes forced) upon him. He did not want to go but we knew it would be the best thing for him. He was very unmotivated at school and gave no effort to pass. Within a week of being at the Academy we received a letter from him telling us it was EXACTLY what he needed and thanking us for making him go. WVU has a college program there that he was selected for and he earned several college credits while there. This is a kid who wanted to drop out of school!! It was so amazing. The academy did what his mother and I could not get him to do, believe in himself and see his self in a positive light. He is now in the Air Force and loves it. He has so much self-esteem now. He knows he can do anything he sets his mind to. I simply can't say enough about the Academy. It is very military based and that is what so many teens need in today’s environment.
Read the comments and you can see that this is what we need in this country.
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