Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe program graduates 152 from Class 37 - Dec. 22, 2012

The Virginia Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy graduated 152 cadets from Class 37 Dec. 22 at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. It was the second largest graduating class in the history of the program. Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, Brig. Gen. Wayne A. Wright, the Deputy Adjutant General of Virginia, Brig. Gen. Janice Igou, Virginia National Guard Director of Interagency Operations, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis A. Green, the Virginia National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader, were on hand to recognize the graduates. Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms was the guest speaker and the Virginia National Guard’s 29th Division Band provided music for the ceremony. Commonwealth ChalleNGe is the Virginia component of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, which focuses on preparing at-risk teens and high school dropouts for the General Educational Development test and future employment, military or higher education opportunities. Offered free to at-risk teens ages 16 to 18 in Virginia, Commonwealth ChalleNGe is a statewide co-educational program with two components- a 22-week quasi-military residential phase and a 12-month post-residential phase.