Program for at-risk teens to be shut down

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Friday saw an emotional day in Battle Creek as a program for at-risk teens learned it will have to shut down.

For months now, Newschannel 3 has been following the budget fight involving the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy. It's a program designed to help troubled teenagers prepare for adult life using military style training. On Friday, we learned that the current class will be the last.

For academy leaders it was a painful day, but they took time to talk exclusively to Newschannel 3.

Staff and students got the news on Thursday that the school will be shutting down in December.

"We are going to tell them as it stands right now, you are the last class to graduate," said Col. John Wemlinger (Ret.) of the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy.

In just a few short weeks, the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy will be shutting down. State budget cuts of a little more than a million dollars will force the school to shut its doors and eliminate more than 50 jobs.

"We were told yesterday that on November 23 we were to all receive our termination letters," said Wemlinger. "This is the end of the mark for a group of caring, professional people."

Over the course of a decade, the academy has had thousands of youths graduate.

"In a sense I feel like a father to all the kids who have graduated," said Wemlinger.

The academy has given many Michigan teens a second chance to succeed, something future generations may not have.

"I had no future, I was a juvenile delinquent," said Cadet Chris Ortiz.

"I never thought I could look in the mirror and say you are beautiful, confident," said Cadet Kimberly Clark.

"I don't see life as so pathetic," said Cadet Torian Werts. "I have something to reach for now."

Not surprising, news of the academy's closure brought forth strong emotions from both staff and students.

"I never thought after serving in the Army for 27 years I'd ever find work to be so rewarding," said Wemlinger, "but I found it here."

"I cried. I cried, I went to my Staff Sergeant and said, are you okay?" said Cadet Clark. "Kids deserve a chance; maybe because it was the way they were raised, but may not get this chance I had."