Thunderbird Challenge

Thunderbird Youth Academy is a free program offered by the Oklahoma National Guard, giving male and female high school dropouts the chance to reinvent themselves. Thunderbird Youth Academy employs military style discipline, education and leadership training to provide a life changing experience for its cadets. Successful candidates complete a 22-week residential phase during which they can obtain a GED or complete high school credits. Cadets also have the opportunity to attend college courses at the Pryor Campus of OSU Institute of Technology, all at no cost.

During the residential phase, Thunderbird Youth Academy cadets work closely with case managers, counselors and mentors to develop a road map for success after graduation. Every graduating cadet leaves Thunderbird Youth Academy with a completed Post Residential Action Plan and mentors are a key in successful completion of the plan.

Most of the graduating cadets will continue their education while others enter the workforce or enlist in the military.

Since the program began in 1993, Thunderbird Youth Academy has graduated more than 3,000 cadets who formerly were considered "at-risk" Oklahoma youth.

For more information about Thunderbird Youth Academy, click www.thunderbird.org.

The Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation was established in 1993 as Thunderbird Challenge, Inc. It is classified as a 501(C)3 non-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service. This allows donors to deduct contributions to the foundation.

The principal purpose of Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation is to support the Youth Programs Division of the Oklahoma Military Department and to serve as a goodwill ambassador for its principal youth program - Thunderbird Youth Academy.

Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation supports Thunderbird Youth Academy by offsetting the budgetary imbalances of federal and state funding, so program initiatives are not reduced, or reductions are held to a minimum. Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation also provides items to the program that the state is unable to procure due to legislative or legal restrictions - such as scholarships at the graduation of each cycle allowing cadets who successfully complete the program to pursue higher education.

A long-term initiative of Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation is to assist in the improvement of physical facilities at the Thunderbird Youth Academy campus in Pryor, OK. The site formerly was used as a state-run orphanage and many of the buildings are more than 50 years old and require modernization.

Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation has a board of directors led by president Derek Melton, of Pryor.

For more information about Thunderbird Youth Academy Foundation, email info@thunderbirdchallenge.org, or write TYAF at 837 Millwood Road, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 74011.