THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502160364
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
The first class of students to complete a quasi-military school for high school dropouts graduated Wednesday in an emotional ceremony at Oceana Naval Air Station's theater.
Leaders of the Commonwealth Challenge Program, funded by the Department of Defense and run by the Virginia National Guard, expect the coed program to give the first 53 graduates a better shot at success.
But Challenge's future may not be as secure. Congress is considering whether to continue paying for the program, which has started on a pilot basis in 15 states. Nationally, about 3,000 kids have graduated.
Virginia National Guard Col. Maynard K. Bean, director of Virginia's fledgling program, said he is hopeful.
``Everybody in Washington says it's positive,'' he said. ``I certainly hope so. We've got 41 staff people counting on it. And we've got a lot of kids out there who need it.''
Seventeen-year-old Alexis N. Montgomery might still be stuck in his Richmond neighborhood, hanging out with a bad crowd and using drugs, if it weren't for Challenge.
After five months of close supervision from teachers, counselors and military squad leaders, he now plans to move in with a friend from the program, work at Kings Dominion for a while, take some classes at a community college and join the Air Force next year.
The Challenge staff ``really helped in a lot of ways - self-esteem and motivation,'' he said. Montgomery won awards Wednesday for distinguished performance in math and for passing national physical fitness tests.
Virginia's Challenge program got off to a slow start. State officials made the decision to open the school at the last minute over the summer, leaving Bean the tough task of hiring staff and recruiting kids in time to start in the fall.
The first session began Sept. 10 with 86 kids taking up residence at the National Guard's Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach. Thirty-three students dropped out or were dismissed for various reasons, including homesickness, fighting, drug use or ``sexual misconduct'' with other participants.
``You know, you'd like to be able to keep them all,'' Bean said. ``But sometimes you can't.''
The students followed a rigorous schedule of classes in math, science, English, social studies and physical education, along with military-style training and seminars on such topics as civic responsibility. All were encouraged to do community service.
``It was hard,'' said Yolanda R. Parker, 17, of Norfolk. ``There were times when I didn't think I would make it. But I'm glad I stuck with it.''
Of the 53 students who graduated Wednesday, 30 earned their General Educational Development certificates. The others are awaiting word on their scores.
The teens now will be paired for the next 12 months with adult mentors of their own choosing, who were trained as part of the program. The mentors will help kids stick to the goals they have set for themselves and will help parcel out a $2,200 stipend the students will earn by completing the program.
There were glitches in the trial run.
Bean and his staff were novices at the state's process for buying supplies, for example. Some materials came late; some never came. The kids never received government-issue underwear to accompany their tan and navy uniforms. They had to wear their own undergarments.
Their winter coats didn't arrive until last week. Bean has yet to receive computers he ordered in December.
Overall, though, the experiment has been successful, he said. He already has received 200 applications for the next session, which begins Feb. 23.
Students jumped to their feet in jubilation Wednesday as speaker after speaker lauded their accomplishments during the commencement ceremony.
Bean urged them not to fall back into old habits.
``You are now entering the most important part of the program,'' he said. ``When you leave here today, you've got to make some very basic decisions about your life.'' MEMO: WHO IS ELIGIBLE
The Commonwealth Challenge Program is open to male and female high
school dropouts 16 to 18 years old who are unemployed, drug-free, not
pregnant and have not been charged with or convicted of a felony. For
more information, call: Col. Maynard K. Bean at 491-5932.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK, Staff
Richard J. Foard, left, and Robert A. Ford, hug after graduating
from the Virginia National Guard Commonwealth Challenge Program
Wednesday. The program is for high school dropouts.
KEYWORDS: SCHOOL DROPOUT JOB TRAINING ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL by CNB