The Discovery ChalleNGe Academy, operated through the California National Guard in partnership with the San Joaquin County Office of Education, was told it was on track to lose federal support under the U.S. Department of War, a move that would have effectively shut down the program. Harder said the decision has since been reversed following intervention and a coordinated push from local and state leaders.
The Discovery ChalleNGe Academy serves all 38 Northern California counties, where 16- to 18-year-olds who are behind in credits move in for five-and-a-half months to get back on track to graduate.
Harder called the program a "hidden gem" in Lathrop and said efforts are underway to raise its visibility and expand awareness of its impact.
"This program saves money for our school system by taking dropouts and transforming their lives... We were able to kick it into high gear. I called the Pentagon immediately and we were able ultimately to get this reversed," Harder said.
Staff Sgt. Benny Montiel, logistics supervisor at the academy, said he sees students undergo measurable transformation during their time in the program and believes it offers a structured path to stability for youth who may otherwise fall through the cracks.
Montiel also cited examples of graduates who have gone on to pursue military careers, including one former cadet who reportedly became a Navy SEAL, though he emphasized that military service is not a requirement or expectation of participants.
"Can you imagine that at this age, a 17-year-old, that it takes a program like this to really change all that about her?" Brown said. "So now look where her life has changed, now that she's sober, made up credits, and just moving in a whole new direction."
"I just took my chance and it's just improved me," the cadet said. "My grades, my idea of what I want to do when I get out of here. It's just made my life so much better being here."
"DCA really helped me get away from that drama, help my credits recover, and get back on my grades," Mendoza said.
"All their lives change," Brown said. "And you can see generations changing because of this."
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