Success Stories
Every cadet who graduates from the NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy is a "success story" to us. Here are just a few from former graduates, their parents and other family members ......... please take the time to read them. This is what Youth ChalleNGe can do for you!
Christine, Mother of Cadet D. Hicks, Class #28, (May 2008)
I am so impressed, my son is the son today that I always wanted and knew he could be, he showed me his exercises and he spoke so highly of everyone there. I am so proud and grateful that I can honestly say it was the best Mother's Day I could have wished for and I owe it to everyone there, I can see your dedication and your love for what you do through the progress of my son, again thank you and I salute everyone of you. God Bless.
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Mother of Graduate Strickland, Class #27, (Feb 2008)
What is a Challenge?
I believe a challenge is:
.....when you are called to do something requiring boldness
......when you confront something with courage
......when you resist temptations...even when there is no one looking at you and....
...when you take a stand for the right thing...even in the midst of chaos.......
Cadet Strickland...You and the entire group of Charlie have fought in there...even when you all could have given up...
I thank God for this program. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for "challenging" our youth. May He continue to bless the administration to help future cadets like it has in helping my child and the entire class of 27!
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Dan Heston, Graduate of Class #1, (Nov 2007)
Hello, my name is Dan Heston and I'm a graduate from the ChalleNGe Program's first class ever. Remembering back, as I'm thirty years old now, I can't imagine where I would be if it weren't for the program. Let me say that I was an unguided teen with a mother on drugs and a disabled Vietnam Vet as a father, neither of which were able to control my rage and anger towards the world. I was in a lot of trouble at the time of enrollment and almost didn't make it in, but ChalleNGe took a chance on this kid and may I say it's changed my life forever. I've learned discipline and self-control. I was given a chance to work at the Motor Pool working on the Barrier Reef Project removing old tank engines and loading the shells onto a flatbed where they would later be taken out to sea for artificial marine habitats.
From ChalleNGe I used my stipend to attend Lincoln Tech for Diesel Technology. I'm now married with a 10 year old son who is a gold medal wrestler in his weight class for the State of New Jersey. I own my home in Riverside and am currently employed as a Diesel Mechanic at Petro in Bordentown right next to the base.
I would like to say thanks for everything the program has done for my life. The reason I'm writing this is because a new co-worker from the inner-city of Trenton just became employed with me and we got to talking about life's struggles as teens with no guidance these days and he mentioned that he was a graduate from ChalleNGe's second class and how it changed his life. After listening to his story, I told him I also went there and was part of the first class. He didn't believe that I could have survived the first class, that was until I brought in my diploma with Ms. Whitman in a picture handing it to me.
Good luck with the future of the program. ~Dan Heston
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Cadet Greten/ Bravo Platoon (Feb 2007)
For the past two years, my brother has put my family through so much. I would cry almost every night because of everything we were all going through. When we heard about the Youth ChalleNGe Academy, we basically told him this was his last chance to straighten out before things got too serious. All we could think about is how we all prayed and hoped he would come out of this program a new person. And he did just that.
Watching my brother walk across that stage on February 25th meant the world to me. He finally went through with something and did the best he could. He was sworn into the National Guard that same day.
I want to thank everyone who made a difference in my brother's life while he was in the academy. My brother is a changed person and is no longer the trouble maker he once was. His manners are better and the way he treats everyone now is amazing. I don't know how to thank you enough for this program.
Thank you!!
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Amazed Mom of Cadet R.Garcia - Bravo Platoon (Feb 2007)
I cannot put into words how happy I am as well as amazed. My son was starting to head down the wrong road and the ChalleNGe Academy made him take a closer look at himself and the future he could have. My son has made a 100% turn around. Cadet Garcia has become a man in the program, he is optimistic about the future and even talks about going to college, which he previously would have never done. I would definitely recommend this program to any youth who needs that second chance to prove themselves.
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Dear YC Staff, (Feb 2007)
Words cannot express my gratitude to each and every one of you. In September I dropped off my son, worried whether he'd finish or not..... Yesterday's graduation ceremony was beautiful and dismissed all fear for his future.
The family went out to eat and there my son announced that he had a new determination for his future. Where he was going and what he'd intended to do. How nothing was going to stop him from reaching his goal!
I could not have been prouder!!!
Thank you to each and every one of you for giving my son a future and a new outlook... I'm believing for great things!
Cadet Michael Velazquez's Mom
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Bravo Platoon / Cadet Blanton (Feb 2007)
Here I sit thinking back to Sept 18th when I dropped my lazy son off at registration and he kept telling me that he would not change and that this place would not change him. Well, on Oct 14th at Family Day, I had already begun to see the change. By Thanksgiving I was so proud that my son wanted to take on the "Challenge" of being the man that his single mom raised him to be and by Christmas my son came home and was cleaning the house, washing dishes, doing laundry without me having to say anything.
I'm not sure what it is that they really do at the NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy to have changed my oldest, very spoiled, lazy son into the fine man that he is today, who is going on to Montclair State College in September but, I would like to thank the ENTIRE Youth Challenge staff for putting their feet in my son's behind because he is going to have a great life thanks to all of them.
Thank you so much,
The very Proud Mother of Cadet Blanton
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Dear ChalleNGe Staff, (Feb 2007)
It's hard to believe that Graduation for Class 25 is almost here! It seems like only a short time ago, we brought our son, Cadet/Private Zach Faist, down to In-Processing...and now, 5 1/2 months have passed and Graduation is this Sunday!
I wanted to take the time to say 'THANK-YOU' to all of the staff there at NJYCA!!! You have all done so much in helping our son, Zachary, to meet this ChalleNGe...and then some!!!
Over these past 5+ months, we watched the transformation in our son, in so many ways! During his time there at ChalleNGe, he not only became a man...but he became an American Soldier as well. Military was always his plan, but this program has helped him be a step ahead and I believe, has better prepared him for life in the US Military. I know it has helped me...a little...lol...in getting use to Zach being away from home...although I still think the day he leaves for Basic, or anytime he leaves or is deployed, etc...I'll be a total basketcase!!! lol!! But you know what I mean...he was never really away from home like this...so it was a transition for me too, as a mom, to get used to and dealing with the 'goodbyes' and missing him and worrying, etc... etc... But again, ChalleNGe helped by allowing me to come in here to this forum and still have a 'connection' to my son, while he's been there at the Academy these past 5 1/2 months.
You have all been such an important part of Zach's life...and ours...over these months. You were there when it got a little rough and I cannot thank you enough for that!!!
I know that Zach will be taking so much more than just a diploma with him, as he departs ChalleNGe, that he will then take with him as a US Soldier, that will be critical for him out there and that he will look back upon, and remember, and use what he has learned there, to be the best Soldier he can be.
Back on September 10'th 2006, we gave you an unsure, unmotivated, wary boy and you have returned to us, a self-assured, motivated, positive-thinking and well-conditioned, young man-turned American Soldier!!!
How do you repay that??? All we can offer is our most sincere gratitude and thanks and I will forever speak highly of the Youth ChalleNGe Academy and recommend it to other parents who are looking for that 'something' their child needs.
We are so VERY PROUD of the young man, who is our son...Cadet...now Private Zachary Faist, and all he has accomplished there at ChalleNGe, with the guidance, help, mentoring, training and support he has recieved from each and every one of you!!!
Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts!!
And...Congratulations to you all, on guiding yet another class through the ChalleNGe and helping each of them, meet their own personal Challenge!!
They literally couldn't have done it without each of you or without ChalleNGe!!!
God Bless and guide you as you keep on guiding our youth and molding them into fine young men and women, better prepared to face the world and each 'new challenge' they face in life!!!
Most Sincerely,
Cathy & Chuck Faist