YCA Graduates 200 in Macon Graduation

More than 200 cadets from Georgia 's Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduated in ceremonies held at the Macon City Auditorium in December.

"This is just the first step," said Col. Frank Williams as he reminded graduates during the ceremonies. "So get a job Monday," he added with some jocularity. Williams is Georgia 's National Guard Director of Youth Programs, which not only includes two Youth ChalleNGe Academies, but also the Starbase program located at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

The guest speaker was Joshua Logan, a member of the first graduating class in Georgia in 1994. Logon turned his life around after attending the quasi-military program and is now pursuing a medical degree from Emory University .

Also attending the ceremonies were Georgia 's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress and his wife, Elizabeth.

Youth ChalleNGe is a National Guard run program that offers a structured, military influenced training and mentoring program for at-risk youth. The program develops the life skills, educational levels and employment potential of 16-to-18-year-old high school dropouts. Georgia currently has two academies, one at Fort Stewart in Hinesville, and the other at Fort Gordon, near Augusta.