The Alaska Military Youth Academy celebrated its 59th class of students and more than 28 years of service to the State of Alaska as Class 2022-2 graduates 75 cadets from its ChalleNGe program on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022.
The 10 a.m. ceremony was open to the public and took place at the Dena’ina Center, 600 W. 7th Ave, Anchorage, Alaska.
The event was also be live streamed for families, friends, supporters, mentors, and the public. The live stream is available at https://www.facebook.com/GOAMYA.
The graduates come from communities across the state, including Akiak, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugiak, Delta Junction, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Glennallen, Kasilof, Kenai, JBER, Nightmute, Palmer, Pilot Station, Soldotna, and Wasilla.
During their 22-week residential phase at the AMYA ChalleNGe program, the corps of cadets focused on academic excellence, leadership and followership, physical fitness, life coping skills, responsible citizenship, vocational training, and service to the community. Class 2022-2 completed more than 3300 hours of service to the community, 51 cadets earned their high school diploma or GED, and others earned 7.0 transferable high school credits. Three cadets received vocational training in culinary arts or supply/logistics. All cadets received guidance on future training opportunities in the trades.
Upon graduation from AMYA, cadets will take part in the year-long post-residential phase where graduates return home to practice their new skills as productive members of their communities. During this phase, cadets may continue their education (high school, college or vocational schools), enter the workplace, or join the military.
The program is offered at no charge to cadets and is co-sponsored under a cooperative agreement between the National Guard Bureau and the State of Alaska. The 75 graduating cadets will join the 6,415 previous graduates since 1994.
The Alaska Military Youth Academy’s mission is to “help intervene in and reclaim the lives of youth and produce program graduates with the values, skills, education and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults.”
The next AMYA ChalleNGe program class begins on January 18, 2023.
