Lake County teens complete Montana Youth Challenge Academy

Four Lake County residents were among the 79 cadets who were honored during a commencement ceremony for Class 44 of the Montana Youth Challenge Academy on June 12 at Vigilante Stadium in Dillon.

Austin Nelson of Rollins, Weston Sansone of Polson, and Nakoda Padilla and Linden Pierre of Ronan were among those who completed the program this year.

The academy is a residential academic-intervention program on the campus of the University of Montana-Western for students ages 16 to 18 who are at risk of high school dropout. Designed by the National Guard Bureau and run through a cooperative agreement between the federal government and the state of Montana, the academy offers military-style structure and discipline along with academic, professional and life-coping skills students need to become productive citizens.

Elsie Arntzen, Montana’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction was the guest speaker. Other distinguished guests included Maj. Gen. John (Pete) Hronek, the adjutant general for Montana, and Michael Reid, chancellor of The University of Montana-Western.