U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) received the 2019 Challenge Champion Award for his support of the Georgia National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
 
The National Guard Youth Challenge Program was formed in 1993 to counter the high school dropout crisis. The nationwide program provides free alternative education and structured discipline programs for at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 18. Through the program, cadets have the opportunity to earn a GED or high school diploma.
 
“Georgia is home to one of the largest National Guard Youth Challenge programs in the country,” said Senator Perdue. “First started by Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA), this program has helped thousands of at-risk youth turn their lives around. As a result, these teens have learned how to better handle challenges, serve their communities, and be productive citizens. Everyone deserves a second chance and a shot at a successful future. The Youth Challenge program is doing great work in Georgia and across the country to help young people discover their full potential and set them on a path to success.”
 
“Senator Perdue is a strong advocate for Georgia’s youth. We’re grateful for his support of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, which helps shape at-risk youth into productive citizens and prepare them for better futures,” said Tina Coria, Chairman of the Georgia National Guard Youth Challenge Foundation. “We are particularly appreciative of Senator Perdue’s role in passing a Senate Resolution underscoring the importance of the Youth Challenge and recognizing its 25th anniversary. Senator Perdue continues to provide strong bipartisan leadership that benefits our premiere military youth programs, and we are proud to present him with the 2019 Challenge Champion Award. We will continue working with Senator Perdue to make a difference in the lives of Georgia’s youth and look forward to our next goal of workforce development.”
 
Today, there are 40 Youth Challenge academies across 28 states. More than 165,000 cadets have graduated from the program, and over 110,000 academic credentials have been awarded. Georgia’s Youth Challenge academies, located at Fort Stewart, Fort Gordon, and Milledgeville, have graduated more than 17,000 cadets representing all 159 counties in Georgia.
 
In May 2018, the Senate passed Senator Perdue and Senator Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) bipartisan resolution honoring the 25th anniversary of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program.