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Aug 6, 2006

GRADUATES TURN LIFE AROUND

Casper Star-Tribune, WY
By John Morgan

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Life was normal when Kyle Alexy was growing up in Afton.

Then it fell apart.

When Alexy was 13, his dad died from a bone disease. His mom followed two years later from pneumonia.

“I dropped out of high school mid-sophomore year,” said Alexy, now 17. “I couldn’t really get along with any of my classmates and I always got teased a lot.”

His two brothers both had criminal histories and one was in prison, leaving Alexy without a family to care for him.

“Basically, he was living on the streets for two years or living with friends,” said Eli Hale, a police officer in Afton. “He had somewhat of a home, but it wasn’t a conducive environment. As an officer, we see kids like that every day.”

The Wyoming National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe program was just getting started, and Hale was able to convince Alexy to join the first class in January. Hale signed on as Alexy’s peer mentor, offering his support and friendship throughout the course.
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