The National Guard's fifth annual Challenge Champions Gala
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Tuesday afternoon Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon, other celebrities and military leaders were at the JW Marriott to take a spin around the city in a special Indy car to raise awareness for the high school dropout epidemic in this country before performing at or attending the Foundation’s Fifth Annual Challenge Champions Gala later in the evening.
WWE wrester MVP and Indy 500 Champion Dan Wheldon look over a Formula One racer occupied by Jameka Mitchell and Grant Richey.
General Craig R. McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, WWE
wrestler MVP, country music star Craig Morgan, and Chairman of the
National Guard Youth Foundation Lt. General John B. Conaway pose with a
Formula One race car occupied by Jameka Mitchell and Grant Richey. |
Outside the JW Marriot, Jameka Mitchell and Grant Richey sit in a Formula One racer. |
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The National Guard Youth Foundation held its fifth annual Challenge Champions Gala on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel. The Gala honored supporters of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, a 17-month voluntary intervention program established to provide high school dropouts a second chance. With a success rate exceeding 90%, Youth Challenge assists dropouts in completing a high school diploma or GED and allows them to continue on to higher education or gain productive employment.
— Photographs by James R. Brantley
Detail of the guitar built by Texan singer Kalie Caperton with military insignia presented to her by the Texas National Guard
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The JW Marrrott is made up for the National Guard Youth
Foundation Gala
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Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis
McCarthy and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.)
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Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and cadet Kaylee Lankford
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Chair of the National Guard Youth Foundation Lt. General John B. Conoway, Indy 500 Champion Dan Wheldon
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Director of the Air National Guard Lieutenant General Bud Wyatt
and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General James Cartwright
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Miss Indiana Nicole Pollard | |
The Freestate Challenge insignia
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Major General Myles Deering, Pam Deering, Brigadier General
Thomas Katkus, Jo Katkus |
Texans Steve Caperton (left) and Sue Caperton (right) pose with their daughter, Kalie Caperton, show designed and built the guitar with them and donated to the silent auction. Kalie Caperton was one of the evening's featured singers
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Singer Brittany Black performs |
Phil Killey, Ellen Killey, Lt. General Russell C. Davis, Shirley Davis, Nichole
Schuller, Mary Len Rees, Oregon National Guard Major General Fred Rees
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Painter Bill Patterson |
Brigadier General Sandi Dittig and Jan Zimmerman
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Si Johnson gives George Sturgell directions on the silent auction
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First Sargeant Jay Jachimowicz and Col. Tom Early
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Major General Kenny Montoya and DC Major General Errol Schwartz |
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