A total of 124 cadets will graduate from the Youth Challenge Program on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Class of 2024-02 gathered to receive awards and recognition for their efforts.

Col. Carl Thompson first presented the American Legion Awards to Zyria Gibson and Jacob Anders.

Community Service Awards recognize the cadets who have been selfless and outstanding on community service. From 1^st Platoon, awards went to Za’Kyla Stokes, 45 hours; from 3^rd Platoon, Kenner Harrison, 47 hours. Awards for outstanding academic achievement, and class awards went to: the Top Ten (from 10-1) Hayden Cook, Aden Richard, Jonathan Savoie, Samuel Taylor, Jr., Athena Anderson, Jacob Winans, Chaz Phillips, Myesha Anderson, Salutatorian Jordan Reed, and Valedictorian Raelin Keegan.

KP’s of the cycle were Diego Boyd, Rony Cruz, Jyrell Young, 4^th Platoon;

The Top Ten AR participants are Lisa Green, 180.7 points; Hayden Cook, 197.9 points; Shane Dickey, 201.1 points; Aaron St. Romain, 207.1 points; Traden Touchet, 208 points; Aden Richard, 211 points; Athena Anderson, 270.8 points; Taegan Fanguy, 281.5 points; runner-up with 296.4 points, Samuel Taylor; and first place with 357.9 points, Jordan Reed.

Class Awards: Class 1 – Most Improved, Tremaine Stephens; Best Attitude, Michael Fields; Best Overall, Kenner Harrison; Class 2 – Most Improved, Derreck Rogers; Best Attitude, Owen May; Best Overall, Delton Young; Class 3 – Most Improved, Jyrell Young; Best Attitude, Genesis Weathersby; Best Overall, Donta Fortenberry; Class 4 – Most Improved, Jaylyn Matthews; Best Attitude, McKinzie Gaspard; Best Overall, Kailee Sims; Class 5 – Most Improved, Bailey Frederick; Best Attitude, Athena Anderson; Best Overall, Janaireeia Sallie; Class 6 – Most Improved, Phillip Hunt; Best Attitude, Rony Cruz; Best Overall, Dakota Bailey: Class 7 – Most Improved, Morgan Holder; Best Attitude, Jace Broussard; Best Overall Shane Dickey; Class 8 – Most Improved, Leonard Caines; Best Attitude, Wendell Provost; Best Overall, Emerson Colley.

JAG awards went to (female) Most Improved, Za’Kyla Stokes; Best Attitude, Bailey Frederick; Best Overall, Janaireeia Sallie; and (male) Most Improved, Kaleb Nervis; Best Attitude, Isaac Jackson; Best Overall, Emerson Colley.

Residential Phase (placement for post residential phase): Class 1 — Most Improved, Michael Fields; Best Attitude, Payton Boone; Best Overall, Aiden Lormand; Class 2 – Most Improved, Derreck Rogers; Best Attitude, Delton Young; Best Overall, Bryce Bordelon; Class 3 – Most Improved, Jemeeke Gayden; Best Attitude, Dakota Grag; Best Overall; McKinzie Gaspard; Class 5 – Most Improved, Bailey Frederick; Best Attitude, Athena Anderson; Best Overall, Janaireeia Sallie; Class 6 – Most Improved, Christian Birdwell; Best Attitude, Rony Cruz and Christian McKoin; Best Overall, Dakota Bailey and Phillip Hunt; Class 7 – Most Improved, Kaleb David; Best Attitude, Thiessen Barnes; Best Overall, Terrell Dimes; Class 8 – Most Improved, Kamarii Driskell and Leonard Caines; Best Attitude, Wykiel Provost and Jerrad Lindsey; Best Overall, Emerson Colley and Jason Mims.

National Guard Youth Foundation Scholarships were presented to Jonathan Savoie, Phillip Hunt, Emerson Colley, Aden Richard, Patricia Authement; Myesha Anderson, Bryce Bordelon, Issac Jackson, Raelin Keegan, Jyrell Young.

The following cadets have been selected to attend the Job Challenge Program with a scholarship valued at $25,000: Ashton Alsobrooks, Athena Anderson, Myesha Anderson, Dakota Bailey, Shane Dickey, James Ficco, Donta Fortenberry, Phillip Hunt, Layla Hunter, Issac Jackson, Angelina Neis-McBride, Chaz Phillips, Janaireeia Sallie, Jonathan Savoie, Kailee Sims, Aaron St. Romain, Jacob Winans, and Delton Young.

The Counseling Awards went to Leoard Caines, Wykiel Provost, Billy Walthall IV, Rony Cruz, Sebastian Stanley, Zachery Frentz, Trey’Qwan Brady, Derreck Rogers, Delton Young, Myesha Anderson, Taegan Fanguy, Jaylyn Matthews, Michael Smith, Rocky Watson.

Achievements in platoon life and physical performance went to:

Color Guard – Dakota Bailey, Kay’John McClinton, Emerson Colley, Ralph Robinson;

1^st Platoon – Amari Crayton, Most Improved, Zyria Gipson, Best Attitude; Athena Anderson, Best Overall; 3^rd Platoon – Derrick Rogers, Most Improved; Trey’Qwan Brady, Best Attitude; Jacob Anders, Best Overall; 4^th Platoon – Most Improved, Ro’Al Phillips; Best Attitude, Jyrell Young; Best Overall, Dakota Bailey; 5^th Platoon – Kenneth July Perdomo, Most Improved; Sebastian Stanley, Best Attitude; Phillip Hunt, Best Overall;

Platoon of the Cycle – 4^th Platoon;

5-Star Cadets – Athena Anderson, Layla Hunter, Dakota Bailey, Thiessen Barnes, Dakota Gragg, Aiden Lormand, Chaz Phillips, Jonathan Savoie, Phillip Hunt and Jordan Reed;

Cadet of the Cycle – Phillip Hunt;

Commandant’s Spirit Award – Derreck Rogers and A’Mya Prout

Cadre – Rookie of the Cycle, CPL Sariah Spikes; Cadre of the Cycle, SGT Joshua Long; Most Improved Cadre, SGT Wesley Luce; Supervisor of the Cycle, CPL La’Raya Pollard; Leader of the Cycle, SFC Andrea Rogers; Helping Hands Award, CPL Robert Duke and SFC Decarlous Montaquim; Team of the Cycle, SSG Kecha Robinson, CPL Latyteauna Goodwin, SFC Lamaurus Harris, SFC Andrea Rogers and CPL La’Raya Pollard.

Elite Physical Fitness Awards went to Layla Hunter and Ralph Robinson.