The Alaska Military Youth Academy celebrated its 60th class of cadets and more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska as Class 2023-1 graduated 72 youth leaders from its ChalleNGe program on Thursday, June 15, 2023.
During their 22-week residential phase at the AMYA ChalleNGe program, the corps of cadets focused on academic excellence, leadership and followership, physical fitness, life-coping techniques, job skills, responsible citizenship, health and hygiene, and service to the community.
Class 2023-1 provided more than 3,270 hours of service to the community; 40 cadets earned their high school credentials; others earned 7.0+ transferrable credits each. Twenty-six cadets received vocational training in culinary arts, supply/logistics, building maintenance, and OSHA 10-hour training. All cadets received American Traffic Safety Services Association flagger certification and guidance on future training opportunities in the trades.
The 72 cadets set to graduate come from communities throughout Alaska, including Anchorage, JBER, Eagle River, Eielson, Chugiak, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kasigluk, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Noorvik, North Pole, Palmer, Salcha, and Wasilla. They will join more than 6,480 previous graduates since 1994.
The program is co-sponsored under a cooperative agreement between the National Guard Bureau and the State of Alaska and is offered no cost to cadets and their families.
Alaska Military Youth Academy commandant Arthur Munnlyn addresses the team leaders before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Cadets with the Alaska Military Youth Academy pose for a photograph before the start of graduation June 15, 2023, at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy cadet Jonah Nelles stands at attention before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader John Honore jr. hugs cadet Ruth Hidalgo Hernandez before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
From left, Alaska Military Youth Academy cadets Joseph Laporte, Chance Fisher and Talan Sunderland stand for a photograph before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy check each other’s uniforms before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy cadet Emerson Tyrell writes his contact information on a piece of paper before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Three Alaska Military Youth Academy cadets hug before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy cadet Yuriah McDonald gets help adjusting her beret from team leader Jasmyme Suemai before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy team leader Lance Richter prepares the cadets for the march to the stage before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy cadets stand in their black shined boots before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy cadet Lydia Kolerok leads the Color Guard across the stage before the start of the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy cadets sit at the position of attention during the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy graduate Xavier Bobby Dugaqua smiles as he receives his diploma during the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Family members of an Alaska Military Youth Academy graduate point at their graduate as they leave the main floor after the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
A trio of Alaska Military Youth Academy graduates hug and cry after the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy graduate Wesley Iloilo stands for pictures with his mother after the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
Alaska Military Youth Academy graduate Louis Savaiinaea stands with a picture of his mother and other family members after the graduation ceremony at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus June 15, 2023. The 72 graduating cadets are the 60th AMYA class in the more than 29 years of service to the State of Alaska. (Alaska National Guard photo by Robert DeBerry)
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