By the Numbers In any given year, high school
dropouts can expect to earn $10,000 less than high school graduates — but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. According to the National Guard Youth Foundation, dropouts: • are 3.5 times more likely to be arrested, • comprise up to 70 PERCENT of the U.S. prison population, • have shorter lifespans, and • are less likely to marry, vote, or volunteer.
scholarship from the NGYF, which helps sup- port ChalleNGe graduates as they continue their education or join the skilled workforce. Beverly graduated from college with honors. “ChalleNGe changed my life,” says Lena, a
graduate of the Alaska Military Academy and an NGYF scholarship recipient. “It is the best decision I have ever made.” After studying at the University of Alaska Anchorage, she is well on her way to becoming an Alaska state trooper. “Something in these children at a certain
point clicked. They had been wandering streets, not getting anywhere fast. The jail door was getting closer and closer,” then-Sen. Mary Landrieu, who cochairs the Honorary Board of Directors for the NGYF, said when the fi nd- ings from the MDRC report were presented on Capitol Hill. “Something inside of them said, ‘Let me reach out for help,’ and when they did, the National Guard was there.”
MO
— Christina Wood is a Florida-based freelance writer. Her last article for Military Offi cer was “Unique Expertise,” May 2015.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the aver- age high school dropout costs the economy approximately $240,000 over his or her life- time in terms of lower tax con- tributions, higher reliance on Medicaid and Medicare, higher rates of criminal activity, and higher reliance on welfare.
Cadets conquer the rappel tower at the Virginia Common- wealth Chal- leNGe Youth Academy.
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe participants have donated nearly 8 MILLION hours of community service during the program’s 16-YEAR duration.
In addition, • 39 PERCENT continue their education, • 47 PERCENT join the work- force, and • 5 PERCENT join the military.
According to a cost-benefit analy- sis conducted by RAND Corp., every $1 spent on ChalleNGe yields $2.66 in benefits — a 166 PERCENT return on investment.
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