One hundred twelve Cadets from 40 counties will graduate from the Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy in a ceremony Wednesday, June 19 at Mauston High School, earning their high school equivalency diploma and earning up to 16 college credits. The voluntary Challenge Academy is a cost-free alternative education program which re-shapes the lives of 16-to-18-year-olds at risk of not graduating from high school. It uses a structured, military-style environment and state-certified teachers and counselors to build Cadets’ academic abilities, character, self-confidence, and personal discipline. After graduating from the 22-week residential phase of academy training, Cadets work with hometown mentors who offer guidance and encouragement in pursuing their new direction in life. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program currently operates 39 programs in 28 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, more than 200,000 teens have graduated. The Wisconsin Challenge Academy will begin its next class July 24. Applications are available for future classes by contacting the Challenge Academy at (866) 968-8422 or visiting their website at www.challengeacademy.org. The graduation ceremony begins at noon at Mauston High School, 800 Grayside Ave., Mauston, Wisconsin. The Challenge Academy drill team will perform at 11:15 a.m. Graduates come from 40 Wisconsin counties:
Adams (Grand Marsh, 1) | Ashland (Glidden, 1) | Brown (Ashwaubenon, 1; De Pere, 3; Green Bay, 15; Neenah, 1) | Chippewa (Bloomer, 1) | Clark (Black River Falls, 1) | Columbia (Pardeeville, 1) | Crawford (Prairie du Chien, 1) | Dane (Fitchburg, 1; De Forest, 1; Middleton, 1; Waunakee, 1; Sun Prairie, 1) | Dodge (Horicon, 1; Reeseville, 1) | Door (Sturgeon Bay, 1) | Dunn (Menomonie, 2; Boyceville, 1; Knapp, 1) | Eau Claire (Eau Claire, 1) | Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac, 1; Brandon, 1) | Grant (Lancaster, 1) | Green (Browntown, 1) | Iowa (Ridgeway, 1) | Jefferson (Sullivan, 1; Watertown, 2; Jefferson, 1) | Kenosha (Pleasant Prairie, 1) | La Crosse (Holmen, 1) | Langlade (Antigo, 1) | Lincoln (Merrill, 1) | Manitowoc (Manitowoc, 1; Two Rivers, 1) | Marathon (Wausau, 1; Mosinee, 1) | Marquette (Westfield, 1; Endeavor, 2) | Menominee (Keshena, 4; Neopit, 1) | Milwaukee (Cudahy, 2; Milwaukee, 8; Greendale, 1; Franklin, 1) | Monroe (Kendall, 1; Sparta, 1) | Outagamie (Hortonville, 2; Appleton, 1) | Ozaukee (Port Washington, 1; Grafton, 1) | Pierce (Ellsworth, 1) | Portage (Wisconsin Rapids, 1) | Racine (Racine, 1) | Rock (Beloit, 7; Janesville, 4) | Sauk (Avoca, 1; Baraboo, 1; La Valle, 1; Wisconsin Dells, 1) | Shawano (Bonduel, 1; Pulaski, 1; Shawano, 1) | Sheboygan (Sheboygan, 1) | Vernon (Hillsboro, 1; Ontario, 1) | Waukesha (Pewaukee, 1) | Waushara (Wautoma, 1) | Wood (Marshfield, 2)
