CONTACT: Ben Becker
202-414-0781
Sep 15, 2006

AWARD-WINNING DC JOURNALIST VISITS NGYCP

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In early August, NBC 4 reporter and award-winning journalist Susan Kidd of WRC-TV DC visited the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy in Aberdeen, Md. to meet with cadets and program officials for a news report titled, “What’s Working?” The segment, aimed at profiling people and organizations doing good things in the community, chronicled the daily life of cadets and highlighted the virtues of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program.

Kidd arrived in the late morning and observed cadets in an academic setting, working alongside them in the classroom. As she watched the cadets actively pursue their GEDs, Kidd began to understand the fundamentals of the program and how the different components (academic, physical, discipline) created a foundation for cadets to become self-reliant and responsible.

After morning classes, Kidd followed cadets to the chow hall and chatted with several of them to get their perspective on the program. Cadets shared stories of their motivation to enter the program, the changes they have made and what they believe their future holds for them.

“[The program] changed me a lot.  I have more respect for my family, more respect for my friends and most importantly, more respect for myself,” said Cadet Eryn Henderson.

After speaking with cadets, Kidd interviewed Col. Richard Young, the program director, as well as Greg Sharp, president of the National Guard Youth Foundation, who touched on the overarching national issue of high school dropout rates and how the program is helping at-risk youth to turn their lives around.

The segment aired on NBC 4 on August 23.