Joe Mallett, Director of the Arkansas National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program was the presenter at the September 26 meeting of the Rotary Club of Heber Springs. Youth ChalleNGe is a quasi-military program for young men and women 16-18 years old. These young people are at risk of dropping out of high school, or have dropped out. Youth ChalleNGe is a second chance for these teens, and nationwide the program has helped more than 100,000 turn their lives around.
Mr. Mallett
stated that there are 1.2 million high school dropouts nationwide each year,
costing the economy more than $335 billion in lost productivity. That dropout
rate is nearly 50%. In Arkansas, that translates to four to five thousand
dropouts per year. The Youth ChalleNGe program was created to help address
these alarming statistics.
Focusing on
developing the whole cadet, the program promotes academic excellence, provides
assistance in acquiring job skills, coping skills, physical fitness and health
excellence, and encourages the teens to give back to the community through
volunteer service. And the program has
had success. More than 90% of the cadets will receive their high school diploma
or will earn a GED.
Arkansas National Guard Youth ChalleNGe is based at Camp Robinson, and they will run two semesters per year, averaging about 100 students per semester. “It is important to note that these student cadets are all volunteers into the program. They are not court ordered,” Mr. Mallett said. “They’re invested and motivated to succeed.”
75% of the funding for the program comes from the Federal Government, and it cost about $16,000 per year for each student. Because funding is limited, only 40% of applicants are able to be added to the program on their first attempt. First priority is given to 18-year-old applicants, and younger applicants will have another chance to be admitted in subsequent semesters, if they are not chosen for the semester in which they apply. “As big as the need is for funding,” Mr. Mallett said, “the bigger need is for mentors. Mentors help guide participants in the program, and provide leadership for graduates from the program, ensuring their success.” For more information about how you can participate as a mentor for Youth ChalleNGe, or to apply for a young person who may benefit, visit their website: www.aryouthchallenge.com
or call 1-800-814-8453.
Rotarians are “People of Action” who are making a difference locally, nationally and internationally. The Object of Rotary is "to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise." The Rotary Club of Heber Springs meets each Tuesday at noon on the ASU-Heber Springs Campus. For more information about the Rotary Club of Heber Springs, please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/TheRotaryClubofHeberSpringsAR.
