Travis L. Sharpe Jr. of Millen is among 214 cadets who graduated from the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy at Ft. Gordon Saturday, March 6, at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta.

Sharpe completed the 22- week, in-residence program where cadets learn self-discipline, leadership and responsibility together with completing necessary academic requirements to earn a GED, or high school diploma.

Youth Challenge operates two campuses in Georgia. The original campus is located at Ft. Stewart and opened in 1993. The second campus opened at Ft. Gordon, near Augusta in 2000. Together both campuses have graduated more than 9,950 formerly ‘at risk’ students. Each year more than 1,200 students apply for one of the four programs running concurrently at both Georgia campuses.