On Saturday, August 20, at 10 a.m., the New Jersey National Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program's 22nd class graduation ceremony will be held at the Trenton War Memorial.  Assemblyman Jack Conners, 7th District, is scheduled to deliver the Commencement address.

      The 66 cadets, representing 50 communities from across the Garden State, will celebrate their graduation from ChalleNGe.

      ChalleNGe provides 16-18 year-old New Jersey residents who did not complete high school a second chance at earning a diploma or qualifying for a GED (Graduate Equivalency Diploma).  The program, which is run by the National Guard and is active in 22 states, seeks to identify at-risk teenagers who have dropped out of high school, and gives them the motivation and direction they need to complete their schooling.  Applicants must be New Jersey residents between 16-18 years old, drug-free, and not currently involved in the legal system.

      Cadets participate in a wide variety of activities to include daily physical training, community service and vocational training.  The academic courses emphasize reading, writing, mathematics, computer skills, citizenship and social studies.  Cadets who successfully complete the requirements are eligible to receive a State of New Jersey High School Diploma.

      Following Phase I, the initial 22-week residency phase, cadets are assigned mentors for an additional 12 months to provide continued guidance and direction through a combination of personal visits, e-mails and phone calls.

Media wishing to attend must register with Staff Sgt. Barbara Harbison; contact the Public Affairs Office by 3 P.M. Friday, Aug. 19, 2005

NJ ChalleNGe Graduates and their Hometowns

Carlos Abreu-Rodriguez                     Bayonne

Roberto Acosta, Jr.                          Trenton

Yonny E. Alas                                  Elizabeth

Duncan S. Anahinga                          South Orange

Javier M. Aparicio                             Elizabeth

Joshua Azcona                                 Hasbrouck Heights

Shareef J. Bailey                              Camden

Alexia D. Bermudez                           Jersey City

Christopher M. Bowman                     Westfield

Ibn-Fuquan Bowman                         East Orange

Robert J. Brejcak                              Mt. Holly

Matthew S.Capehart                         Mt. Laurel

Steven L. Carr                                 Woodbury

Samuel Cintron                                 Bloomfield

Frank P. Compitello, Jr.                      Bayonne

Jerry Corrochano                              Kearny

Omar L. Cox                                    Paulsboro

Terrence J. Doherty                          Somerset

Rebecca A. Douglas                          Bloomfield

Adrian Dumit                                    Jersey City

Julissa Fabor                                    Prospect Park

Kevin J. Freeman                              Barnegat

Divine Y. Gomez                               Marlton

Jesse J. Gowdy                                Delanco

Dawon T. Hennegan                          Elizabeth

Tyree L. Hicks                                  Elizabeth

Carl T. Jeffcoat                                Elizabeth

Michelle S. Kresky                             Marlton

Blake D. La Tour                               Springfield

Stanley R. Leak                                 Camden

David M. Love                                   Mullica Hill

Michael D. Lowe, Jr.                           Plainfield

Joseph P. Makemson                          Woodbury

Miguel A. Marcial                               Secaucus

Sherilyn M. Martin                             Plainfield

Austin L. Mason                                North Bergen

Manuel A. Mojica                               Englewood

Roland R. Moody                                Staten Island

Jaheem J. Morris                                South Toms River

Jhonatan Munoz                                North Bergen

Tuscan R. Murphy, Jr.                        Orange

Amir I. Nixon                                     East Orange

Ra-shaan A. O'Neal                            Kenilworth

Elijah J. Palmer                                  Plainfield

Jhonatan J. Pena                               Bronx

Edward L. Person                               Metuchen

Patrick A. Phelps, II                            Edgewater

Lateisha L. Pratt                                 Florence

Anais Ramos                                      Lindenwold

Francisco O. Ramos                            Dumont

David J. Richardson                             Woodlynne

Steven L. Robbins, Jr.                          Trenton

Orlando Rodriguez, Jr.                          Mt. Laurel

Sjahron Romain                                   East Orange

Roberto E. Salinas                               Passaic

Kerry L. Savage                                  Ewing

Andrew R. Scott                                 Trenton

Nia M. Servance                                 East Orange

Sylvester A. Sgro                               Bayville

Abu-Bakr A. Sharif                              Ewing

Jasmine M. Showell                             Trenton

Markus L. Simons                                Pine Hill

Ernesto A. Solorzano                           Guttenberg

Francisco J. Torres                             Totowa

Hector W. Valentin                              Paterson