Youth Challenge Academy Class 53 Graduation - November 25, 2020
With the last in a three-part series on the YCA Graduation Ceremony, (ICYMI, we shared video highlights, a hula dancer, and now some still photos) I extend my heartfelt thanks and alohacongrats to the staff of YCA for all their hard work and send my best wishes for an AlohaMerry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.🎄
I attended the fall 2020 graduation for the Youth Challenge Academy Class 53 at their Kalaeloa campus on November 25. Hawai'i Youth Challenge Academy O'ahu has been fortunate because they’ve been able to continue on-site operations with the cadets during the COVID pandemic. As I do at all of their graduations, I prepared an Honorary Certificate for each of the graduating cadets and presented a $500 scholarship for one graduate from the Kalaeloa campus. I also contribute a $500 scholarship for one deserving graduate at the Hilo Youth Challenge campus.
As mentioned previously, Cadet Kaylen Kekuewa-Wright was the recipient of the O‘ahu Mike Gabbard scholarship and also performed the beautiful hula dance. After leaving YCA, she plans to continue her studies at Leeward Community College, in the automotive arena.
I love this program. We live a few blocks away from the Kalaleloa Campus, and even though their reveille bugling begins at 4:30 am, I’ve yet to receive any complaints from neighboring constituents. Also, thankfully, I’m not a light sleeper. 😉
As background, Youth Challenge provides 16 to 18-year-old "AT-PROMISE"; students a second chance to obtain their high school diploma and become successful, responsible, and productive citizens. The Academy instills discipline and a sense of self-worth by using military training to significantly improve the life skills and employment potential of young people. The program's eight core components focus on the holistic development of the youth and include: academic excellence, life-coping skills, job skills, health & hygiene, responsible citizenship, community service, leadership/followership, and physical fitness. The five-month residential phase of the program is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with specially trained members of each graduate's community.
The Academy was founded in August 1994 and is administered by the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. It has campuses in Kalaeloa on O‘ahu and in Hilo on the island of Hawai‘i. Each cycle, the program accepts approximately 150 young people. Since its inception, the program has graduated over 6,500 students with 80 percent of them earning their high school diploma. Keep up the good work cadets, YCA Director Sina Atanoa, and all the YCA staff!
(Pictured in order: w/YCA Dir., Sina Atanoa; w/Augie T.; w/scholarship recipient, Kaylen Kekuewa-Wright; w/City Councilmember-elect, Augie T.; Honolulu Prosecutor-elect, Steve Alm; Matt Taufate’e from First L.A.P. (life after prison) Ministries and Peacemakers); w/YCA Secretary, Donna Yoshimura.
Youth Challenge Academy Class 53 Graduation - November 25, 2020
With the last in a three-part series on the YCA Graduation Ceremony, (ICYMI, we shared video highlights, a hula dancer, and now some still photos) I extend my heartfelt thanks and alohacongrats to the staff of YCA for all their hard work and send my best wishes for an AlohaMerry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.🎄
I attended the fall 2020 graduation for the Youth Challenge Academy Class 53 at their Kalaeloa campus on November 25. Hawai'i Youth Challenge Academy O'ahu has been fortunate because they’ve been able to continue on-site operations with the cadets during the COVID pandemic. As I do at all of their graduations, I prepared an Honorary Certificate for each of the graduating cadets and presented a $500 scholarship for one graduate from the Kalaeloa campus. I also contribute a $500 scholarship for one deserving graduate at the Hilo Youth Challenge campus.
As mentioned previously, Cadet Kaylen Kekuewa-Wright was the recipient of the O‘ahu Mike Gabbard scholarship and also performed the beautiful hula dance. After leaving YCA, she plans to continue her studies at Leeward Community College, in the automotive arena.
I love this program. We live a few blocks away from the Kalaleloa Campus, and even though their reveille bugling begins at 4:30 am, I’ve yet to receive any complaints from neighboring constituents. Also, thankfully, I’m not a light sleeper. 😉
As background, Youth Challenge provides 16 to 18-year-old "AT-PROMISE"; students a second chance to obtain their high school diploma and become successful, responsible, and productive citizens. The Academy instills discipline and a sense of self-worth by using military training to significantly improve the life skills and employment potential of young people. The program's eight core components focus on the holistic development of the youth and include: academic excellence, life-coping skills, job skills, health & hygiene, responsible citizenship, community service, leadership/followership, and physical fitness. The five-month residential phase of the program is followed by a year-long mentoring relationship with specially trained members of each graduate's community.
The Academy was founded in August 1994 and is administered by the Hawai‘i Army National Guard. It has campuses in Kalaeloa on O‘ahu and in Hilo on the island of Hawai‘i. Each cycle, the program accepts approximately 150 young people. Since its inception, the program has graduated over 6,500 students with 80 percent of them earning their high school diploma. Keep up the good work cadets, YCA Director Sina Atanoa, and all the YCA staff!
(Pictured in order: w/YCA Dir., Sina Atanoa; w/Augie T.; w/scholarship recipient, Kaylen Kekuewa-Wright; w/City Councilmember-elect, Augie T.; Honolulu Prosecutor-elect, Steve Alm; Matt Taufate’e from First L.A.P. (life after prison) Ministries and Peacemakers); w/YCA Secretary, Donna Yoshimura.