Valley cadets usher senator

CASEY RESSLER/Frontiersman Valley Life Editor

When Sen. Ted Stevens gave his annual address to the Alaska Legislature late last month, he was escorted by six cadets from the Alaska Military Youth Academy, including two cadets from the Valley.

Zachariah Foster of Willow and Jonathan Edgren of Wasilla were joined by Christopher Cowherd, Kayleen Gatto and Melvin Caldwell of Anchorage, as well as Eric Roberts of Soldotna.

The cadets are part of the Alaska Military Youth Academy's ChalleNGe class of 2004. Students come to the academy on a voluntary basis - they can't be sent to the academy unwillingly. According to academy officials, most of the students have dropped out of traditional or alternative high schools, and many come from challenging home environments.

The academy has a proven track record for graduates. After living a military lifestyle at the academy, cadets have gone on to work in the community, pursue higher education and enlist in various branches of the military.

Numerous Valley students have gone through the Alaska Military Youth Academy, with good results.

The ChalleNGe program was established in Alaska as a pilot program. The first class of cadets attended classes in January 1994 at Camp Carroll, at Fort Richardson. Since then, the academy has graduated more than 1,700 cadets.

Stevens has been an enthusiastic supporter of the program, officials said, and that's why the six cadets ushered him into the Legislature for his remarks to both houses.

The cadets also testified in front of the Armed Services committee while in Juneau.