Alaska Military Youth Academy graduates 111 cadets

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON — The Alaska Military Youth Academy held a graduation ceremony for its 62nd class of cadets with 111 youth leaders graduating from the ChalleNGe program Thursday, June 13.

The graduation ceremony was open to the public and took place at the Alaska Airlines Center. It was also live streamed for families, friends, supporters, mentors, and the public who are unable to attend.

According to a press release, the cadets focused on academic excellence, leadership and fellowership, physical fitness, life-coping techniques, job skills, responsible citizenship, health and hygiene, and service to the community during their 22-week residential phase at the AMYA ChalleNGe program,

These cadets invested over 5,933 hours of service to the community. Over 60 cadets earned their high school credentials, others earned 7.0+ transferrable credits each, and 30 cadets received vocational training in culinary arts, supply/logistics, building maintenance, and OSHA 10-hour training.

All the cadets received American Traffic Safety Services Association flagger certifications, first-aid and CPR certifications, food handler cards, and guidance on future training opportunities in the trades.

The cadets came from from communities across the state including Anchorage, Bethel, Chugiak, Craig, Eagle River, Emmonak, Fairbanks, Glennallen, JBER, Juneau, Kasilof, Kenai, Kodiak, Mountain Village, North Pole, Palmer, Sitka, St Marys, Utqiaġvik, Valdez, Wasilla, and Willow. They're part of more than 6,678 previous graduates since 1994.

Graduating cadets participate in the year-long, post-residential phase back in their communities where they will utilize the life skills and principles they learned while continuing their education (high school, college, or vocational schools), joining the workforce, or joining the military.

This integrative phase is designed to help graduates sustain and build on their progress while serving as productive members of society.

The ChalleNGe program is a free opportunity that is co-sponsored under a cooperative agreement between the National Guard Bureau and the State of Alaska.

To view the graduation ceremony video, visit facebook.com/GOAMYA.

For more information about the Alaska Military Youth Academy, visit akmya.alaska.gov/home.

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