Arizona Project ChalleNGe Accepting Applications for January Class

Arizona Project ChalleNGe, a leading voluntary educational program for high school dropouts, is currently accepting applications for its upcoming January class. The class will begin January 8, 2006. The residential 22-week program has a high success rate for helping dropout students finish their educations and become productive citizens. Since its inception, Arizona Project ChalleNGe has graduated 6 students from Gila County*. Arizona has the worst dropout rate in the nation. Each year, 12 percent of youth ages 16-18 fail to finish high school. History has shown that the bad decisions and negative influences that lead a student to fail will only intensify once they leave their education behind. Statistically, these individuals are more likely to end up in prison (80 percent of Arizonas prison inmates are dropouts). Further, adult workers without a high school education will lose up to $900,000 in lifetime wages. Arizona Project ChalleNGe offers a new beginning and a brighter future to Arizonas dropouts. Located in Queen Creek (almost 40 miles east of Phoenix), the program runs twice a year, with no charge to the student or his/her family. The program experiences a high level of success, with 75 percent of students passing their GED and a great majority going on to further their education and/or enter the job market as more mature, prepared and capable members of society. In just under six months, these young men and women experience an incredible mental and physical transformation as a result of the programs dedication to education, life skills, community service and health awareness. Applications for the program are due by November 29th. Applicants must be high school dropouts, ages 16-18, and must voluntarily agree to enter the program with parental or guardian support. For more information, visit www.ngycp.org/state/az/ or call 480.988.4100. The Results · Over the past 12 years, Arizona Project Challenge has graduated 24 classes of students. · A majority of graduates pursue a positive endeavor in postsecondary institutions, continuing education, employment or military service. · While at Challenge, students perform 100 hours of community service. · 100 percent of 18-year-old program graduates register to vote. · In Arizona, an average juvenile corrections savings of $29,000 per student, per year, based on an annual cost of $14,000 per NGYCP enrollee vs. and annual cost of $44,000 per youth in a correction facility.