KINGWOOD, W.Va. — More than 130 students graduated from the West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy Friday.
The class included 118 cadets that graduated with a high school diploma, in which 67 percent of the cadets plan to join the workforce, 23 percent plan to join the military, 7 percent plan to take part in a vocational or technical program and 3 percent will enroll into a four-year college program.
According to National Guard Adjutant General James Hoyer, 174 people began the academy at Camp Dawson.
“I cannot underscore how proud we are of the accomplishments of these young people today. They are the future of this State and our Nation,” he said.
Thirty-eight counties were represented in the academy. The cadets provided more than 6,600 hours of community service.