‘DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE’

109 cadets take next step in life’s growth

109 cadets with 109 different success stories were told Saturday at the Texas ChalleNGe Program graduation ceremonies held in Eagle Lake.

Through our partnership with RCISD, 36 are receiving their HS diplomas and 15 have earned their GED’s “We have 31 who would like to join the military and 18 who intend to go straight to college.

While a number will return to high school, all have received job skills training and are prepared to enter the workforce,” said David P. De Mers, Director of the Texas ChalleNGe Academy.

De Mers said the Texas ChalleNGe Academy (TCA) is a 5 1/2 month long, voluntary, quasi-military, residential program for youth who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out of high school. The residential program is followed by a 12 month follow up period where staff and mentors continue to support and encourage cadets as they transition back to their communities. The program is funded through the Department of Defense and the Texas Military Department.

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program currently operates 40 programs in 28 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. There are 2 campuses in the state of Texas, located in Sheffield and Eagle Lake.

The program’s mission is to help reclaim the potential of at-risk youth and decrease Texas high school dropouts. TCA helps youth become successful, responsible, and productive citizens through a program of mentoring, education, physical fitness, and volunteer service to the community.

Applicants are 16-18-year-old teens who have either dropped out or are at risk of dropping out of high school. Cadets live on campus for 5 1/2 months during the residential phase of the program.

They may recover credits, earn their GED, or, if qualified, earn their high school diploma. Academies are tuition-free, accredited high schools and based on Equal Opportunity principles.

After graduation, Cadets return home and meet with a mentor every week for 12 months, which helps keep their resolve and change their lives for the better.

De Mers said TCA recruiters connect with youth and families from all parts of Texas.

“Many search for an alternative education program online, while others hear about our program from former graduates and others who have experienced success here,” De Mers said.

De Mers has been the director at Eagle Lake since March of 2020.

The 8 Core Components of Texas ChalleNGe Academy are:

• Academic Excellence designed to increase grade levels in reading and mathematics, to earn a GED or high school diploma

• Leadership and Followership - teaching positive roles within social groups

• Responsible Citizenship - understanding civic responsibilities and social accountability

• Job Skills and Vocational Training - resume writing, job interview skills, and career exploration

• Life Skills - anti-bullying/ teamwork skills, anger management, drug and alcohol avoidance strategies, self-discipline

• Health & Hygiene - nutrition basics, substance abuse awareness, and positive relationship skills

• Volunteer Service - performing at least 40 hours of service to the community • Physical Fitness - daily fitness activities and intramural sports During his tenure with TCA, De Mers has seen transforming changes in the cadets that attend the academy.

“The TCA program is life transforming for the youth who attend,” De Mers said. “Many youths today lack resilience, discipline, and self-confidence to overcome life’s hardships. TCA is difficult, but the training and experience gained here bring out maturity and strength within our cadets that were not present when most arrived.”

De Mers said the program has seen graduates that have went on to join the Navy’s Nucleau Engineering program.

What are some of the big success stories you have witnessed from the program?

“We have others who have been the first in their family to achieve a HS diploma. Others simply earn enough credits to rejoin their peers and graduate from HS on their original timeline,” De Mers said. “Many youths come to us so far behind on credits that a diploma appears to be out of reach; Some will earn the credits to gain their diploma, while others will earn their GED. One of the most remarkable improvements we see is the relationships that are rebuilt with their families.”

De Mers said often the program is misunderstood in the community.

“It is common for our community to misunderstand who we are. The campus was once the home of a youth correctional facility, and shortly after that it transitioned to a bootcamp,” De Mers said. “TCA is neither of those programs. TCA is an opportunity for youth who have fallen by the wayside. Many youths experience trauma and tragedy in their lives and struggle with success because of broken or fragile support systems. There are myriad reasons why youth struggle to find success, and few places to go to reboot, and get a genuine fresh start.”

De Mers said his message for the community is a simple one.

“I would love for our community to know that our youth are not “bad kids.” Youth are not forced to come to TCA; instead, they choose this program. They choose this program because they are seeking something that works,” De Mers said. “It is difficult here, and it is common for them to quit. But we work with them and their families to encourage them to stay and experience success. (More than 80% of the youth who have attended this past year have completed the program.) The youth of TCA are courageous and amazing youth who are working to overcome a past that many of them did not choose. They spend 5 1/2 months here at TCA “getting comfortable being uncomfortable”, and their success is undeniable.”