Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C, and Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., were honored last month for their support of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program.

They were recognized Feb. 26 at the third annual ChalleNGe Champions Gala and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., hosted by the National Guard Youth Foundation (NGYF).

The dinner attracted more than 1,000 lawmakers, defense officials, celebrities, Guard leaders and ChalleNGe academy cadets.

ChalleNGe is a 17-month voluntary intervention program designed to provide training and education for high school dropouts interested in pursuing higher education, finding employment or joining the military.

Since it began in 1993, the program has spread to 29 states, Puerto Pvico and the District of Columbia and has graduated more than 77,000 young people.

NGYF president Greg Sharp said the dinner annually honors those who support the the unique Guard program.

"It was also an opportunity for supporters of the program to meet with young cadets and hear their transformational stories firsthand," he said.

Trisha Yearwood, a Grammy winner and country music superstar, entertained. NASCAR star Dale Eamhardt Jr., who drives the No. 88 National Guard car in the Sprint Cup, also attended.

Other NGYF honorees included Thomas Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs; Curt Kolcun, who represented Microsoft, which has contributed more than $7 million in grants to the ChalleNGe Program; and Maj. Gen. Alien Tackett, West Virginia adjutant general.

NGAUS used the event to present Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway, former NGB chief and current NGYF chairman, with the G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Medal, the association's second highest award.

Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, NGAUS chairman, called Conaway a "true Guard giant."

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