Chambana Sun

State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Teutopolis) recently marked the graduation of the Lincoln Challenge Academy's 16,000th cadet.

“Over the last 30 years, Lincoln's Challenge Academy has helped 16,000 young men and women find a path to success,” he wrote in a Facebook post. 

The U.S. military also acknowledged the graduation of the Illinois National Guard Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Class 59-23 on June 10 in a new release. Individuals who participated in this year’s class recovered 277.5 credit hours, were awarded seven high school diplomas and 31 general equivalent diplomas (GEDs), and that cadets were awarded $33,050 in college scholarships, according to the news release. The Army news release quoted valedictorian Taiwo Sowemimo as saying that the “seeds of discipline, consistency, and endurance that we have sewn at LCA will surely bear fruits of victory one day.” 

Participants embark on a 22-week residential program on campus in Rantoul, Illinois. They learn a combination of life and job skills, physical training, computer literacy and classroom instruction. They are also required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service. Next, there’s a 12-month post-residential phase where graduates return to their community and work according to the individual life plan created during the residential phase of the program. They can continue their education, volunteer, or get a job during this phase, the program’s website said. 

Participants tackle eight objectives as part of their program. Those include life coping skills, health and hygiene, job skills, academics, and responsible citizenship (which includes knowledge of the Constitution and government); leadership, physical fitness, and service to community, the website said. 

The next class begins July 12. Multiple orientations will be conducted between now and then, including ones on Thursday and June 27. Thursday’s orientation will be held in Chicago at 5200 S. Cottage Gove Ave., and the June 27 orientation will be at 650 Armory Road in Shiloh.

Niemerg has represented the 109th District since 2021. He is a native of Teutopolis, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University after attending Lake Land College. Professionally, he has experience as a senior claims adjuster with Country Financial, his legislative biography said.