Friday, January 2, 2004

Palmetto teen graduates from Youth Challenge

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
Special to the Citizen

Hrvoje Grbanovic of Palmetto recently graduated in December from the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy located at Fort Stewart. Corley was among more than 140 formerly at-risk Georgia teens to graduate from the 22-week, in-residence youth development program.

Since its beginning in 1993, Georgia’s Youth Challenge Academy has graduated more than 2,500 youth from across the state. The National Guard operates two Youth Challenge Academy campuses, one at Fort Stewart and the second campus at Fort Gordon near Augusta.

Youth Challenge is designed to help high school dropouts, ages 16-18, to complete necessary requirements to obtain a GED or high school diploma. Many YCA graduates move on to attend technical schools or college or enlist in the armed forces. Others return to their hometowns with valuable life skills and resources that help to secure employment.

Brigadier General Joel Seymour, Commander of the 600-member Georgia State Defense Force was the commencement speaker for the Youth Challenge graduation ceremony.

For additional information about the National Guard sponsored Youth Challenge Academy, contact Youth Challenge Academy at (912) 767-4015.