State Representative Brian Prince (D-Augusta) was recently appointed to the 2017-2018 Board of Directors for the Georgia National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports Georgia’s three National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academies. Rep. Prince’s appointment to the Board of Directors is for a two year term.

“I am honored to be named to the Board of Directors for such an esteemed and dynamic program like the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy,” said Rep. Prince. “This one-of-a-kind program has had a significant and proven impact on the lives of young men and women across the country that may not have otherwise had an opportunity or the resources to complete high school. I am proud that Augusta is home to one of the two academies in Georgia.”

The Georgia National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy Foundation’s efforts are directed primarily toward developing, supporting and enhancing the Georgia National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academies and its Cadets with educational scholarships, public awareness initiatives, innovative partnerships and opportunities for training and developing workforce and life skills.

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy program is a nationwide program formed in 1993 by U.S. Sens. Sam Nunn and John McCain following a study that was released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies entitled, “Forging a Military Youth Corps – A Military-Youth Service Partnership for High School Dropouts.”  ChalleNGe serves those between the ages of 16 to 18 who have dropped out of school but are interested in turning their lives around and improving their chances for success. The program has helped more than 120,000 young men and women earn a high school diploma, GED or continue their education. Georgia’s academies, located at Ft. Stewart, Ft. Gordon and Milledgeville, have graduated nearly 15,000 cadets from across the state.

“I’m grateful to have a strong board comprised of dedicated individuals who are supporting the Georgia Youth ChalleNGe Academies and helping thousands of young men and women in this state turn their lives around,” said Tina Coria, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “As we head into the 25th anniversary, we will honor the incredible foundation laid by Sen. Nunn when he created this program, and celebrate those whose lives have been changed. I’m pleased to have the guidance and leadership of so many forward-thinking Georgians as we continue to grow the program to make an even greater impact.”