Thunderbird Academy for at-risk youth held graduation services of 104 students in December.

Friends, family and National Guard members gathered together for the graduation of 104 cadets from the Thunderbird Challenge Program on Saturday, at Pryor High School’s Hershel Avra Performing Arts Center.

The cadets successfully completed the 22-week program that employs a military style approach to teach students self-discipline, physical fitness and structure designed to better the “whole person.”

“The cadre pushed us and gave us that fight to keep going,” said Cadet Sgt. Maj. Bancen Gragg of Quinton, Oklahoma.

During comments to the graduates, Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, the adjutant general for Oklahoma, encouraged them to be proud of what they had accomplished.

“You have accomplished a goal. That’s what life is all about – setting goals, and if you fall short at least you’re heading in the right direction,” Thompson said. “Don’t think that because you come from humble beginnings, you can’t go out and be successful. You live in the greatest country in the world – full of opportunity.”

The Thunderbird Challenge Program offers cadets the opportunity to learn about the importance of leadership and receive performance-based promotion through an internal rank system.

Two of the graduating cadets, Noah Bennett of Welling, Oklahoma, and Destiny Powell of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, took the oath of enlistment and will soon be putting what they learned to the test as members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. The cadets had the honor of receiving the oath from Thompson during the graduation ceremony.

The mission of the Thunderbird Challenge Program is to intervene in the lives of at-risk youth, giving them the opportunity to gain control over their lives by increasing academic performance, improving self-esteem and teaching essential life skills enabling them to compete in the workplace and manage a healthy family environment.

 “It’s not about the mistakes you made, it’s about how you learn from them and pick yourself up. You’re a part of the Thunderbird family, if you need anything, call us,” said Lt. Col. (ret.) John Altebaumer, Thunderbird Challenge Program director.

For more information on the Thunderbird Challenge Program visit their website at www.thunderbird.org.