Miller County teen graduates from Fort Stewart youth challenge program

A Miller County teen is among more than 122 youth to graduate from the Georgia National Guard's Youth Challenge Academy at commencement ceremonies held in Macon on Saturday, December 20, 2008, at the Macon City Auditorium.

Tyler A. Harden of Colquitt is a member of Class # 2008- 4 of the Fort Stewart-based YCA program.

Georgia's Youth Challenge is a 22- week residential youth program for teens aged 16- 18 who have dropped out of school. The military-styled program provides teens with the opportunity to complete basic academic courses leading to a high school diploma or GED. The voluntary program also provides teens valuable life skills training emphasizing academic, physical fitness and personal discipline.

"I'm honored to participate in the Youth Challenge graduation and I congratulate Tyler upon his graduation. I am very proud of each student who chooses to put circumstances in the past and move forward toward a bright future and a chance at real success," said Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. This is the second address Lt. Governor Cagle has delivered to a YCA graduating class before hundreds of families and friends.

The Georgia National Guard operates two Youth Challenge Academy campuses in Georgia, the original campus at Fort Stewart near Savannah, and a second campus at Fort Gordon near Augusta that opened in 2000. To date more than 8,000 formerly "at risk" teens have graduated from the Youth Challenge Academy program at the two Georgia campuses.