Eight Ohio County Schools students graduated from the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy.
The Academy, located in both Kingwood and Montgomery, W.Va., is a 22-week residential experience that works with students who are looking for a different educational track. The “NG” is capitalized to highlight the program’s relationship with the National Guard. According to their site, “The mission of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is to train and mentor selected at-risk youth to become contributing members of society using the 8 Core Components in a quasi-military environment during a 22-week residential and one-year Post-Residential follow-up program.”
Students can enlist in the academy, structured similarly to the military, and focus on completing their GED under the “Option 1 Pathway.” The program also offers additional post-secondary guidance. Congratulations to WPHS students Gavin Bolinger, Ethan Brown, Ryder Brown, Kayden Griffith, Connor Johnston, Jayden Monto, Jesse Lennox, and Dakota Viles.
In addition to graduation, two students were given specific honors: Ethan Brown was elected to lead the 1st Platoon, and Connor Johnston was awarded the Esprit de Corps Award (voted by fellow cadets) and the
Robert C. Byrd Distinguished Cadet Award (top honor). Johnston was also the Core Commander and graduation speaker.
