Volunteer Challenge Academy to Graduate Current Class

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Saturday, December 14, the Tennessee Volunteer ChalleNGe Academy will graduate its 5th class in the Hall of Flags at the Tennessee National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters located at 3041 Sidco Drive, in Nashville. The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CST, will recognize the hard work and dedication of 41 cadets who completed the 22-week resident phase of the Academy.

This program is designed to intervene in the lives of thousands of young men and women ages 16-18 who are at risk of dropping out, or have dropped out, of high school.  The ChalleNGe model is based on a quasi-military construct that combines educational instruction, experiential learning and one-on-one mentoring that continues for one year after graduation.

“It will be a great honor to witness these young men and women as they graduate from this challenging program,” said Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessee’s Adjutant General. “These young adults have overcome significant challenges in their lives and it speaks to their strong character.”

All TNVCA graduates have three different options that lead to a high school diploma or equivalent.  First, through credit recovery, they may return to their assigned high school and complete graduation.  Second, they may receive their high school diploma from TNVCA.  Finally, those cadets who do not have enough credits to receive their high school diploma are fully prepared and able to test for the HiSET whereby they may earn their high school equivalency diploma.  Through this process, each student has the opportunity to obtain a renewed sense of identity, dignity and hope for a brighter, more meaningful future.

Family, friends, and media are all invited to attend the graduation ceremony. For more information about TNVCA, visit https://www.tn.gov/tnvolunteerchallenge, call 629-888-5868, or email the TNVCA at tnvca@tn.gov. The TNVCA is currently taking applications for the next class which begins on July 12, 2020.