On Saturday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m., the historic War Memorial Building in Trenton, New Jersey will host the graduation ceremonies for the New Jersey National Guard ChalleNGe Youth Program's 19th class.  Congressman Rush Holt (D-12th Congressional District-NJ) is scheduled to deliver the Commencement address.

     91 cadets representing more than 53 different communities and 14 counties across the Garden State will celebrate their graduation from Phase I of ChalleNGe.

     ChalleNGe provides 16-18 year-old residents of New Jersey who did not complete high school a second chance at earning a diploma or qualifying for a GED (Graduate Equivalency Diploma.)  

     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.

     New Jersey is one of only 25 states to have an active ChalleNGe program.

Challenge Graduates and Hometowns

Jonathan Adams, Linden

Shana Alexander, Trenton

Jennifer Arribas, Elizabeth

Vanessa Alvarez, Elizabeth

Nathan Bailey, Newark

Annaleigh Bear Robe, McGuire AFB

Matthew Blasker, Deptford

Spencer Crowell, Ewing

Tara Callaghan, Sicklerville

Shawnetta Carter, Newark

Marcus Chavis, Plainfield

Kent Cole, Cherry Hill

Adam Collado, Jersey City

Derick Conover, Pemberton

Terrain Dandridge, East Orange

Edward De La Cruz, Bridgeton

Christopher De Los Angeles, New York

Danielle De Sena, Union

Gared Flagler, Elizabeth

Ricardo Fong-Sue, Willingboro

Ryan Gartner, Dumont

Victor Girau, Perth Amboy

Joan Graeber, Woolwich

Brandon Grier, Newark

Daniel Hamilton, Lumberton

Aaron Harvey, Elizabeth

La Sha Hill, Bayonne

John Jeffers, Pitman

Bryan Johnson, Atlantic City

Javonn Johnson, Jersey City

Kenny Johnson, McGuire AFB

Ardrais Jones, Eatontown

Candice Jones, Teaneck

Mark Jones, East Orange

Mark Kraft, Metuchen

Reginal La Pierre, West Orange

Kenneth Lee, Roselle

Dennis Lopez, Minotola

Shaheem Lovelace, East Orange

Rashaun Lowe, New York

Anthony Maldonado, Deptford

Paul Maldonado, Sayreville

Ivan Mamilovich, Prospect Park

Jeremy McArdle, Manalapan

Dabney McGee, Trenton

Justin McIntosh, Union

Tatiana Mendez, Westfield

Israel Morales, Newark

Aldric Morrison, Jersey City

Dequane Moultrie, Englewood

Pablo Naranjo, Newark

Anthony Nash, Orange

Jerome Newman, Pennsauken

John Newman, Pennsauken

Javier Nuez, Elizabeth

Carlos Ocampo, Lodi

Christopher Packard, Galloway

Kathleen Pastrana, Freehold

Alfredo Pellicier, Belleville

Joel Phillips, Englewood

Jennifer Procell, Elizabeth

Naomi Quinones, Jersey City

Jose Quintero, Bayonne

Rick Ramirez, North Bergen

Albert Ramos, Jersey City

Shary Rincon, Englewood

Christopher Rivera, Carteret

Junior Rivera, Union City

Richard Rivera, Jersey City

Rashida Robinson, Trenton

Daniel Rocha, Blairstown

Dennis Romero, North Bergen

Giltres Salcedo, Camden

John Sanchez, Elizabeth

Channell Smith, Irvington

Nicole Smith, Elizabeth

Shaun Spassatempo, Voorhees

John Strong, Browns Mills

Aniello Talamo, Voorhees

Marcus Tilden, Pemberton

Arthur Tomaszewski, Bordentown

Yanilda Toro, Elizabeth

Presaida Torres, Elizabeth

Frank Vargas, Camden

Alejandro Veras, Weehawken

Robert Weinhardt, Pitman

Ronald Williams, Trenton

Janice Williamson, Camden

Steve Williamson, Cherry Hill

Tristan Wood, Egg Harbor

Melvin Yaah, Bloomfield