77 cadets graduate from Alaska Military Youth Academy

WASILLA— 77 Alaska Military Youth Academy cadets are graduating from the National Guard Youth Challenge program with a virtual ceremony Friday, Dec. 17.

The graduating class, Class 2021-2, features cadets from across the state, including Tunanak, Utqiaġvik, Bethel, Juneau, Palmer, Wasilla, Talkeetna, North Pole, Fairbanks, Kasilof, Soldotna, Kenai, Willow, Girdwood, Eagle River, Chugiak, and Anchorage, according to a recent press release.

Class 2021-2 joins the previous 6,257 Alaska Military Youth Academy graduates since the program’s inception in 1994.

Cadets focused on academic excellence, leadership and followership, physical fitness, life-coping skills, responsible citizenship, vocational training, and service to the community during their 22-week residential phase through the AMYA Challenge program.

According to the press release, they provided more than 3,336 hours of service to the community. Fifty-one cadets donated 43 units of blood, potentially saving 129 lives.

56 cadets earned their high school credentials while others earned 7 transferrable credits each.

12 cadets received vocational training through the Alaska Works Partnership. All cadets completed training in financial responsibility and received guidance on future training opportunities in the trades.

All cadets take part in the year-long, post-residential phase where graduates return to their communities to put the life skills principles they received into practice, continue their education, enter the workplace, or join the military.

Family and friends are invited to watch the virtual ceremony at facebook.com/GOAMYA.

The Alaska Military Youth Academy is co-sponsored under a cooperative agreement between the National Guard Bureau and the State of Alaska.

Their mission is “To help intervene in and reclaim the lives of youth and produce program graduates with the values, skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults.”

There is no cost to attend the Academy. The next class is currently accepting applications and begins Jan. 12, 2022.

For more information, visit akmya.alaska.gov/home.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com