SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Matilde Almodovar, the director of the ChalleNGe program in Puerto Rico, was selected as the Director of the Year for the National Guard National Guard Bureau Youth Foundation in Washington, D.C.
Almodovar is the first Puerto Rican to receive this national recognition. Under Almodovar's leadership at risk High School dropouts had the opportunity to receive their high school diploma, which in turn doubled the number of high school graduates; and provided an effective alternative education for high school dropouts.
According to statistics, 40% of Puerto Rico's high school youth drops out before graduation; this number is increasing every year.
Since the Puerto Rico ChalleNGe program's inception in 1999, almost 5,000 cadets have graduated from ChalleNGe which attained the official Commonwealth-government approval and accreditation to operate as a state-certified public high school.
Under Almodovar's nine-year leadership, 3,250 Puerto Ricans school dropouts have overcome all odds by getting their high school diploma; graduation rates doubled annually, outperforming the largest state/public high school in the island, despite strapped budgets
The Puerto Rico National Guard's leadership noted Almodovar's unique ability to help ensure the success of ChalleNGe cadets by mobilizing community resources to set up parent/mentor workshops, alliances with municipal payers, state legislators, partnerships with colleges, technical schools, the private sector, public agencies and nonprofits.
"We are proud of earning this important recognition at the national level through our director Matilde Almodovar and her team. This recognition validates the quality of service offered in the "Puerto Rico Youth Challenge Academy," said Maj. Gen. Marta Carcana, the adjutant general of Puerto Rico.
"Almodovar is a director of character, honor and strong values that inspire the cadres and other ChalleNGe personnel to give their best and ensure that the program is the first and most effective voluntary programs that train youth at risk in our island," said Col. Jose Juan Reyes, Youth Programs manager for the Puerto Rico National Guard.
Almodovar was honored by the Foundation during the annual Recognition Champions ChalleNGe nationwide on Feb. 23 in Washington, D.C.