Antonio D. Morris and Ashley E. Napier of Peachtree City are among 200 teens to graduate from the National Guard-sponsored Youth Challenge Academy (YCA) at Fort Gordon during graduation ceremonies on August 23 at the James Brown Arena in Augusta.

Georgia's YCA is a 22-week voluntary residential youth program for teens aged 16-18 who have dropped out of high school. The military-styled program provides teens with the opportunity to complete basic academic courses leading to a high school diploma or GED. The voluntary program also provides teens with valuable life skills training emphasizing academic, physical fitness and personal discipline and responsibility.

The Georgia National Guard operates two Youth Challenge campuses in the state. The original campus which opened in 1993 is located at Fort Stewart near Savannah, and the second campus which opened in 2000 is located at Fort Gordon. To date, more than 7,900 formerly "at risk" teens have graduated from the two Youth Challenge campuses in Georgia.

Major General Terry Nesbitt, the Adjutant General of Georgia was the commencement speaker at the graduation.

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