While officials are working to make Harlan County the latest site for the Bluegrass Challenge Academy, one local resident has already witnessed the positive effects of the program firsthand.

Kenvir resident Jacob Blevins, recently completed the Challenge program and said his time at the academy dramatically changed his life.

“The academy helped me to get into shape. I feel like a different person. I feel like I learned a lot while I was there, and I think I grew up a little. It also taught me leadership and discipline,” said Blevins, who graduated from the academy on June 20.

While in the Challenge academy, Blevins, who was on probation at the time of his enrollment, said he received his GED and learned to stay out of trouble.

During his time in the program, Blevins said cadets were required to wake up at 5 a.m. before going to a morning and evening class and performing chores. He added that cadets were also required to go to bed at 9 p.m. each night.

“For the first month or two it wasn’t really what I was wanting, and I thought about coming home, but I got used to it and liked it,” he said.

The Bluegrass Challenge Academy had such an impact on his life that Blevins said he would like to see his younger brother go through the course.

Harlan County Judge-Executive Joe Grieshop recently announced that three neighboring county governments have signed an agreement to use multi-county coal severance funds toward bringing the Challenge academy to Harlan, during a fiscal court meeting in July.

Grieshop has said the program would provide numerous benefits to the county, including bringing as many as 25 jobs.

“We have a truancy issue, and we have students who are starting to go in a wrong direction. If they are redirected early, we all win, because we can keep them out of jail and get them back into the education process after the program,” he said. “I think locally, your employment increase is going to be a big win.”

Blevins said bringing the Challenge academy to Harlan County would have a positive impact on the at-risk youth in the area.

“I think it will be real good for the county,” he said. “I still miss it a little bit. I would like to get a job at the academy if it comes to Harlan. I like that type of stuff.”

The National Guard Youth Challenge Program is a coeducational, 17-month program for 16- to 18-year-old dropout or potential dropout students.

There are currently 34 Challenge programs in 29 states and Puerto Rico. The program consists of a five and one-half month quasi-military residential phase and is followed by a 12-month post-residential phase.