On Saturday, August 4, 2001, a class of 60 cadets will graduate from the New Jersey National Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the New Jersey War Memorial, West Lafayette and Barrack Streets, Trenton, New Jersey. Major General Craig Cosgrave, Commander of the New Jersey Air National Guard will be the keynote speaker at the event. Retired Colonel John Promaulayko, Commandant of New Jersey's ChalleNGe Youth Program, will host the ceremony.
The New Jersey ChalleNGe Youth Program is run by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and is staffed primarily by the New Jersey National Guard. ChalleNGe is a 22 week co-ed residential program which affords N.J. high school dropouts the opportunity to earn a GED diploma, get valuable job training, and perform community service projects while in a structured, disciplined environment. The program is designed to give "at risk" youth a second chance to get their lives back on track and become productive, wage earning citizens. Unlike "boot camp," ChalleNGe is voluntary and applicants are carefully screened. All participants must be 16-18 years old, drug free, not on parole or probation, New Jersey residents, and United States citizens. The next ChalleNGe class is scheduled to begin in September of 2001. Applications are now being accepted.

Many of the graduating cadets will have earned their G.E.D. (high school equivalency diploma) and some will be going on to college or entering military service - which requires a high school diploma. Each cadet will also have earned an educational stipend which can be used to further their education or assist in additional vocational training.

Music for the graduation will be provided by the New Jersey National Guard's 63rd Army Band under the direction of Warrant Officer Dorinda Roth.

For applications or more information on the New Jersey National Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program, please call the Commandant's Office at 609-562-0571. A roster of the graduates and their home towns is below. The media is invited to attend the ceremony.