Local students graduate from Montana Youth Academy

Press release

Three Hi-Line youths were among 32 who took part in graduation ceremonies on June 20 for the Montana Youth Academy.

Three local graduates are:

• Lucas Shaw of Havre

• Mason Hoskinson of Chinook

• Weslyn Schilling of Harlem

The commencement ceremony was at Straugh Gymnasium at Montana State University-Western.

Guest speakers were Jason Smith, director of the governor’s Office of Indian Affairs Major Gen. Matthew Quinn of the Montana Army National Guard and Western Chancellor Beth Weatherby.

The academy is a two-phase academic-based program that takes place at Western.

Its focus is to assist youth ages 16-18 develop academic and physical skills necessary to be successful.

There are eight core components to the program, physical fitness, academic excellence, leadership-followship, responsible citizenship, service to the community, life-coping skills, job skills and health and hygiene.

The second phase is a post-residential phase where students enter a 12-month program in which they maintain contact with a volunteer mentor.