# @idahonationalguard on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-Z9LLJENd
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/76059707-idahonationalguard-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f045b95514.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-12-18T01:04:39.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Idaho National Guard (@idahonationalguard) — https://gondola.cc/idahonationalguard

## Caption

EDUCATING IDAHO’S YOUTH: More than 120 Idaho high school students graduated this weekend from the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA). The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) program provides second chances to teens who are on the verge of dropping out of high school or who already have.

The academy is a voluntary program established in most U.S. states. Here in Idaho, the program removes at-risk students from their current environment, placing them in the small town of Pierce for 22 weeks with peers going through similar challenges. 

Following graduation, cadets return to their Idaho communities to finish high school or chase career goals through job corps, education, the U.S. Military and much more.

“I always explain to the cadets that education is something that can never be taken away from you,” said IDYCA principal, Jim Hill. “This graduating class has earned a 3.4 GPA average, that is going from a D plus to a B plus. This class has earned 99 percent of the credits possible, which totals 1,820 credits. Eight cadets have earned their GED, 11 cadets have earned their high school diploma and 20 cadets earned a 4.0.” 

IDYCA cadet, Chase Hayden, spoke in front of the large audience at graduation. “Now that I am here at then end of this five month journey, I can look back and say I am proud of myself and my fellow cadets.” 

He continued, “When we would go to bed at night, the cadre would tell us to ask ourselves these questions: Was I the person today who will be the person I need to be tomorrow? Was I just one percent better than I was yesterday? Will I be even better tomorrow than I was today?” 

#welcomeback #graduates #idahoyouthchallengeacademy #educatingouryouth #idahosyouth #idahoarmynationalguard #departmentofdefense #nationalguard #congratulationsgraduates #motivation #motivationtosucceed #changinglives #secondchances

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- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 137
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## Tags

congratulationsgraduates, departmentofdefense, secondchances, changinglives, motivation, idahoarmynationalguard, graduates, nationalguard, idahoyouthchallengeacademy, educatingouryouth, idahosyouth, welcomeback, motivationtosucceed

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