Article by:
Joseph C. Abraham
The Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy — the voluntary youth education program sponsored by the Nevada National Guard and the State of Nevada for students who are not progressing academically in a timely manner — continues to show a steady uptick in cadet enrollment as it enters its fifth academic cycle since opening its doors two years ago.
Located in Carlin, Nevada. BBYCA currently has 58 cadets enrolled in the residential phase and the next graduation date is set for June 14, 2024.
“We thank Gov. Joe Lombardo and state lawmakers in the Senate and Assembly for their continued support of the Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy and the Nevada National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry, Nevada’s Adjutant General. “Without the support of state lawmakers, current and past governors, this DOD-sponsored educational initiative would not be possible in our state, leaving hundreds of our Nevada students without a critical tool to earn back high school credits in time to graduate with their peers.”
BBYCA is a tuition-free, educational academy encompassing 460 acres on the campus of the Nevada Army Guard’s Elko County Readiness Center. Passed by a state-federal (25%:75%) funding match during the 2019 Legislative Session, the academy operates under the auspice of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program with the overarching goal of providing academic assistance to students 16-18 years of age who have dropped out of school or are struggling academically.
“BBYCA helps Nevada students and improves the dropout rate for school districts,” Dr. Andre’ Ponder, BBYCA Director, said of his passion to build upon BBYCA’s recent progress. “Our goal is to exceed 100 enrollment and beyond. This is a statewide initiative.”
Dr. Ponder has also made significant contributions in law enforcement, proudly serving as a Sergeant in the United States Army and the Florida Army National Guard and has previously worked as the Superintendent of the Mineral County School District here in Nevada and graduated in May with a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University, said the program relies on communication and cooperation with the school districts throughout the state in addition to the local Elko County School District, which oversees the academic curriculum and provides the teachers at the academy.
The residential portion of the academy lasts five months and includes physical training and community service in addition to academics. Across the nation, there are 40 National Guard youth academies in 31 states.
Participants must be: 1) voluntarily applying; 2) 16-18 years old; 3) behind in credits; 4) citizen or legal resident of the United States and the state of Nevada; 5) unemployed or underemployed; 6) willing to be drug-free; 7) not on parole or probation for, not indicted or charged with, not convicted of a felony offense or any offense that would be a felony if charged as an adult; 8) physically and mentally capable of completing the program with reasonable accommodations for physical or other handicaps.
Eligible youth must apply, attend a program presentation, and participate in an interview before being considered for acceptance to the Academy.
For information you may visit the The Battle Born Youth ChalleNGe Academy website at the following address: https://battlebornyouthchallenge.org.