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 Illinois Guard's ChalleNGe Academy Graduates 16,000th Cadet By Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton,
                Joint Force Headquarters - Illinois National Guard Public Affairs
 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois National Guard Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Class 59-23 had many accomplishments when its more than 90 cadets graduated June 10. The class recovered 277 and a half credit hours, awarded seven high school diplomas and 31 GEDs, 33 cadets returned to high school, $33,050 in college scholarships were awarded, 24 cadets are enlisting in the U.S. military and 13 cadets were placed in jobs. More than 7,000 hours in vocational programs and more than 5,321 hours of community service were completed, and the cadets replaced 1,016 pounds of fat with 623 pounds of muscle. But two important numbers were not listed in Class 59-23’s program: 30 and 16,000. In July, LCA will reach its 30th year. The latest graduating class included the 16,000th young man or woman to graduate from the Illinois National Guard’s youth academy. Since July 1993, when it started on the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois, the program has helped 16,000 struggling young men and women find a path to success. As Class 59-23 valedictorian Taiwo Sowemimo said, that path is not always a straight line, but the “seeds of discipline, consistency, and endurance that we have sewn at LCA will surely bear fruits of victory one day.” Sowemimo said the cadets who enter Lincoln ChalleNGe Academy’s 22-week residential phase are far from perfect, but those who completed the program bettered themselves and did not quit. She thanked the LCA staff for believing in them and “accepting us completely.” She urged her fellow cadets to “Thank your parents. Your parent-figures. Your family, regardless of blood. “They stood by you, they filed your paperwork, came (to the academy) on passes, bought you supplies,“ she said. “They’ve seen you at your worst and, today, as the class of 59-23 graduates, will be seeing you at your best. They stood by you all this time because they knew the potential you had in you. And they were right.” LCA’s campus is still on the former Chanute AFB, but five years ago it moved out of the old Air Force barracks and into a new three-building, state-of-the-art campus. The program has evolved from primarily helping cadets obtain GEDs and learn life skills. Now the academy offers GED completion, credit recovery, assisting with re-entry into high school, and multiple vocational programs ranging from fire services to certified nursing assistance to food services to welding. “Yes, we give them hot blow torches,” said retired Col. Maurice Rochelle, LCA director. But the welding program, done in partnership with Parkland Community College, is conducted safely and is now one of the multiple avenues for cadets to find success. The academy still uses a quasi-military environment to teach discipline, leadership and life skills. Cadets start their day at 5 a.m. to train physically and learn healthy habits. In her speech, Sowemimo urged her fellow graduates to continue growing. “Get wisdom and understanding. Open your ears to those who have wisdom and life experiences to share,“ she said. “And only give your time and energy to those who are dedicated to seeing you grow, dedicated to seeing you win, and dedicated to seeing you happy.”
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