A graduation ceremony for the 1st Class of Cadets enrolled at the Tarheel Challenge Youth Academy at New London, NC, last week. The Tarheel Challenge Academy is a disciplined, military style educational program for male and female youth, ages 16–18, that have dropped out of school or are having difficulty being successful in a current school environment.  The program is sponsored by the North Carolina National Guard.  After these students graduate the 22 week resident program, they will begin a one year post residential mentoring program.  A majority of the graduates also completed a General Equivalency Degree, while enrolled in the resident program.