A special day for families, as the Oregon National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program graduates record 165 cadets

Kelsey McGee was on hand; watch her report at Five

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A quarter-century after the Oregon National Guard established the Oregon Youth Challenge Program in Bend, it celebrated Wednesday the graduation of its largest class yet, totaling 165 cadets.

The graduation ceremony took place at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, a special day for many families of teens who had dropped out of school or were not on track to graduate, for a variety of reasons.

The Youth Challenge program has two phases, the first being a 22-week residential phase where cadets living on site, focusing on academic instruction. It’s followed by a two-year post-residential phase as the cadets return to their home community to accomplish new goals and objectives.

About 6,000 cadets from across Oregon have graduated from Youth Challenge. It’s one of more than 40 such programs across the country that help at-risk youth earn their high school diploma or an equivalency or recover credits needed to graduate.

Kelsey McGee was on hand at the graduation event to talk to officials, cadets and families about the program. Her report is coming up on NewsChannel 21 at Five.