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Jun 22, 2006

ACADEMY GIVES DROPOUTS SECOND CHANCE

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By Bryan Marshall
Register News Writer, KY

RICHMOND - Since 1999, a quasi-military program based at Fort Knox has given selected high school dropouts a second chance at becoming contributing members of society.

The Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy, which is operated by the National Guard Bureau Office of Public Affairs, has graduated more than 1,000 at-risk 16- to 18-year-olds.

Retired Col. Joe W. Warren, mentor coordinator for the academy, spoke Wednesday to the members of the Richmond Rotary Club at Galaxy Bowling and Entertainment Center.

“Thirty percent of youth across the nation, which totals out to be about a million, drop out of high school every year,” he said. “Fifty percent of Hispanic, black and (American) Indian youths drop out each year as well. These dropouts cost the nation more than $260 billion in lost wages, taxes and productivity over the students’ lifetime. Sixty-seven percent of all inmates are high school dropouts. That’s why the program was developed.”

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