The Alaska Military Youth Academy will celebrate the 56th class of students and more than 27 years of service to the State of Alaska as Class 2021-2 graduates 77 cadets from the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program, Friday, Dec. 17.
Families, friends, supporters, mentors and the public are invited to watch the virtual graduation ceremony at www.facebook.com/GOAMYA.
During their 22-week residential phase at the AMYA ChalleNGe program, the corps of cadets focused on academic excellence, leadership and followership, physical fitness, life-coping skills, responsible citizenship, vocational training and service to the community.
Class 2021-2 provided more than 3,336 hours of service to the community; 56 cadets earned their high school credentials; others earned 7 transferrable credits each. Twelve cadets received vocational training through the Alaska Works Partnership, and all of the cadets received guidance on future training opportunities in the trades. Fifty-one cadets donated 43 units of blood, potentially saving 129 lives. All cadets completed training in financial responsibility.
The 77 cadets who graduated will join the 6,257 previous graduates since 1994. This year’s graduates come from communities throughout Alaska, including Tununak, Utqiaġvik, Bethel, Juneau, Palmer, Wasilla, Talkeetna, North Pole, Fairbanks, Kasilof, Soldotna, Kenai, Willow, Girdwood, Eagle River, Chugiak and Anchorage.
In addition, all cadets take part in the year-long, post-residential phase where graduates return to their communities to put into practice the life skills principles they received and continue their education, enter the workplace, or join the military. The goal of this phase is for graduates to sustain and build on the gains made during the residential phase while serving as a productive member of society.
The Alaska Military Youth Academy is co-sponsored under a cooperative agreement between the National Guard Bureau and the State of Alaska and at no cost to those selected to attend. The next class of 2022-1 is currently accepting applications and begins Jan. 12, 2022.
