An awards ceremony was held for the Youth Challenge Program (YCP) class of 2023-1 on July 13. After 22 weeks of hard work, 89 cadets will be graduating on Saturday, July 15, at 11 AM at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport.
“Over the past few months, this class has met many challenges,” said Director of Activities Jodi Reeves. “They have stayed the course when things were tough and they have all earned the right to be considered winners and worthy of our praise.”
John Becker presented the American Legion Award for demonstrating strong qualities of character and good citizenship to cadets Jayda Landry and Landon Basco.
Maritza Gomez presented the KP (kitchen patrol) awards to Kelsey Fuentes, Rebecca Galvan, and Nicholas Barker, with Mya Patterson receiving Most Improved KP and 1st Platoon named as best KP Platoon.
SFC Craig Sanders presented the community service awards. Each cadet is required to perform at least 40 hours of community service.
“I am proud to say many of you exceeded the required amount,” said Sanders. “In fact, your class has completed 5,011 community service hours. As a group you have given back $50,100.00 of services to our community.”
Cadets Landon Basco and Talyn Hilsher received the Community Service Award.
Virginia Lawrence, the lead instructor for the education department, presented the awards for outstanding academic achievement.
“Each of you has worked hard and has achieved the goal of increasing your grade level,” said Lawrence. “Many of you have surpassed the required standard and have excelled academically. This was not an easy task. It has required focus and discipline to achieve.”
The top ten cadets named were Lorenzo Whitlock (10th), Emma Gunter (9th), Logan Toups (8th), Luke Mougeout (7th), Nadia Early (6th), Jaiah Delcambre (5th), Piper Pogue (4th), Michael Massey (3rd), Wesley McGee (Salutatorian), and Connor Shumate (Valedictorian).
The top 10 AR points winners were Jordan Barrilleaux (10th), Jayce Young (9th), Lorenzo Whitlock (8th), Rebecca Galvan (7th), Emma Gunter (6th), Michael Massey (5th), Connor Shumate (4th), Justin Vienne (3rd), Wesley McGee (2nd) with 377.8 points, and Korbin Olivier (1st) with 380.5 points.
Next, Lawrence presented the class awards.
In Mrs. Lance’s class, Class 2, Dakota Berry was named Most Improved, Kaden Keppler was named Best Attitude, and Brayden Edgecombe was named Best Overall.
In Ms. Davis’ class, Class 3, Landon Guidry was named Most Improved, Tristin Hernandez was named Best Attitude, and Talyn Hilsher was named Best Overall.
In Mrs. Law’s class, Class 4, Aliday Miller was named Most Improved, Avontae Weston was named Best Attitude, and Korbin Olivier was named Best Overall.
In Mr. O’s class, Class 5, Gailyn Battaglia was named Most Improved, Demitrice Rideau was named Best Attitude, and Nathaniel Godsey was named Best Overall.
In Mrs. House’s class, Class 6, Justin Vienne was named Most Improved, Landry Agoff was named Best Attitude, and Landon Basco was named Best Overall.
In LT Pate’s class, Class 7, Branson Johnson was named Most Improved, Braxton Dietrich was named Best Attitude, and Cameron Migues was named Best Overall.
In Mrs. Rhynard’s class, Class 9, Jayda Landry was named Most Improved, Jada Fontenot was named Best Attitude, and Jaiah Delcambre was named Best Overall.
In Mr. Foster’s class, Class 10, Missy Hudson was named Most Improved, Savannah Davis was named Best Attitude, and Piper Pogue was named Best Overall.
In Mr. Hamrick’s class, Class 11, Mya Patterson was named Most Improved, Falynn Cupit was named Best Attitude, and Nadia Early was named Best Overall.
Awards were given by the case managers in the Post Residential Department. Students who were named Outstanding Cadets were Kaden Keppler (Class 2), Talyn Hilsher and Landon Guidry (Class 3), Justin Steger (Class 4), Connor Shumate and Lorenzo Whitlock (Class 5), Landon Basco (Class 6), Cameron Migues (Class 7), Jayda Landry (Class 9), Kyra Stewart (Class 10), and Falyn Cupit (Class 11).
Mr. Rusty Graham of the medical department presented health awards based on weight lost through exercise and improved eating habits over the past 22 weeks. The top weight loss for the young men ranged from 20 lbs to 64 lbs. The top weight loss for the young women ranged from 25 lbs to 35 lbs.
Mrs. India Hunter, the lead counselor, presented the Youth Foundation Scholarships. Each of these cadets will receive a $1,000 scholarship that can be used at colleges of technical schools. She also announced the cadets who will be accepted into Job Challenge.
The scholarship award winners were Justin Steger, Brayden Edgecombe, Connor Shumate, Landon Basco, Rebecca Galvan, Nadia Early, Emma Gunter, Piper Pogue, Cameron Migues, and Jontavious Lair.
Cadets who will be moving on to the Job Challenge program are Landry Agoff, Landon Basco, Jay’Vonta Clark, Michael Clinton, Logan Cormier, Joshua Cotham, Kristopher Crowe, Jaiah Delcambre, Braxton Dietrich, Jada Fontenot, Emma Gunter, Tristen Hernandez, Tayln Hilsher, Jontavius Lair, Wesley McGee, Cameron Migues, Ayden Moore, Korbin Olivier, Jackson Palmisano, Caden Phinnisee, Piper Pogue, Marvin Ross, Justin Steger, Landan Toups, Logan Toups, Avontae Weston, Lorenzo Whitlock, and Jayce Young.
Cadets were also awarded for personal growth through improvement of attitude, increase of self-esteem, and the attainment of personal goals.
In Mrs. Thurman’s group, those cadets were Tristen Hernandez, Kaden Keppler and Jeremiah Dixon.
In Mrs. West’s group, those cadets were Branson Johnson and Marvin Ross.
In Mrs. Flanagan’s group, those cadets were Colby Mott and Rob’Tavious Darby.
In Ms. Ashley Baker’s group, those cadets were Caden Phinnisee and Noah Lawson.
In Ms. Candice Baker’s group, those cadets were Jayda Fontenot and Landry Agoff.
In Ms. Smith’s group, that cadet was Mya Stewart.
Also during the ceremony, it was announced that Breia Fontenot will be serving her country by enlisting in the Louisiana National Guard.
1SG Jackson presented awards for outstanding performance in physical fitness and platoon life, and he also recognized exceptional performance in the Color Guard.
“The NGYCP Elite Physical Fitness Award is presented to less than 15% of students in the nation,” said Jackson. “Class 2023-1 has 2 students that are eligible to receive this award.” Those cadets were Miaraha Bryant-Jackson and Michael Clinton.
Cadets that performed duty on the Color Guard for this class were Dontavon Bartie, Landon Basco, Cameron Migues, Nehemiah Phillips, Logan Toups, and Landry Agoff (not pictured).
Cadets were also recognized for outstanding achievement within their platoons.
For 1st Platoon, Miaraha Bryant-Jackson was named Most Improved, Savannah Davis was named Best Attitude, and Jayda Landry was named Best Overall.
For 2nd Platoon, Marvin Ross was named Most Improved, Nehemiah Phillips was named Best Attitude, and Landon Guidry was named Best Overall.
And for 3rd Platoon, Avontae Weston and Jordan Barrilleaux were named Most Improved, Landry Agoff was named Best Attitude, and Landon Basco was named Best Overall.
The Youth Challenge Program has a promotion system by which cadets are rewarded for their efforts in every aspect of cadet life. The highest rank that can ordinarily be obtained by a cadet is that of four stars. Four star cadets must excel among their peers in their academic ability, their leadership ability, and in their physical ability.From the ranks of the four star cadets, eight outstanding cadets were selected as five stars. Those cadets were Savannah Davis, Nadia Early, Piper Pogue, Kamrynn Pope, Landry Agoff, Landon Basco, Talyn Hilsher, and Connor Shumate.
From these cadets, one outstanding cadet was selected as Cadet of the Cycle. The cadet of the cycle for Class 2022-2 of the Camp Minden Youth Challenge Program was Nadia Early.
The final cadet award of the day was for the Commandant’s Spirit Award. This award is selected by the senior leadership of the Cadre Department and is presented to cadets who have demonstrated the essence of spirit by their determination, tenacity, and positive outlook while facing challenges and never giving up on their goals throughout the cycle. This cycle’s award winner was Talyn Hilsher.
This awards ceremony was a true testament to the Youth Challenge Program and its ability to take young men and women who are struggling to make wise decisions and give them the discipline and tools they need to succeed in life. Congratulations to each and every one of you.