Superintendent Arntzen to Offer Commencement Remarks to the 48th Graduating Class of the Montana Youth Challenge Academy

• Brian O'Leary
• June 15 2023

DILLON – Superintendent Arntzen will continue her tradition of offering commencement remarks to the graduates of the Montana Youth Challenge Academy (MYCA) in Dillon, Montana on June 17, 2023. This year is the 48^th graduating class with 108 cadets. MYCA cadets are eligible to earn a proficiency-based state diploma, which is granted to residents who have exhausted the possibility of earning a high school diploma. Under the requirements in ARM 10.66.301, five cadets earned the state diploma:

• Roman Gonzalez from Saint Ignatius 
• Adrian Luedtke from Miles City
• Jeffrey Storlie from Billings
• Christian Carrasco from Belgrade
• Christopher Neff from Belgrade

“We are all Montana proud of the 48^th graduating class,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The state diploma reflects my Montana Ready initiative focus on preparing our students to be career and college ready. It is always an honor to speak to the cadets and their families as they celebrate this great accomplishment. Please join me in congratulating all 108 graduates!”

"It is so awesome to see all the hard work and support of the Office of Public Instruction and the Montana Legislature coming to fruition,” said the Director of the Montana Youth Challenge Academy, Trent Gibson. “These Cadets have done an exceptional job in the classroom, and the opportunity to earn this state diploma will be life-changing. These young men put forth exceptional effort and earned this diploma. I am happy for them and proud of our staff's work to prepare them to excel on the HiSET. Six months ago, they did not have a pathway to a diploma, but through hard work and dedication, they now have a diploma to help them move to the next chapter. I look forward to seeing more Montana youth who thought the door was closed taking this opportunity to make a positive life change."