Published: September 17, 2009 10:03 pm      

Mountaineer ChalleNGe grad improves life, gets Harley after D.C. speech

As Sam Atkinson prepared to address a crowd of 80 to 100 people in Washington, he was nervous, even shaking, as he approached the podium.

The 22-year-old Beckley resident then said he “winged it” as he told the crowd how his life had done a complete turnaround for the better thanks to Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy. Apparently, he winged it well enough to receive a Harley-Davidson.

Atkinson, a 2005 graduate of the academy, received a black 2007 Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster after addressing the June 27 Washington Wine Affair fundraiser for the YouthQuest Foundation. YouthQuest Foundation, according to its Web site, works to support academic development and “life-enriching” activities for young people. It has a particular focus on at-risk teenagers.

Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy, located on Camp Dawson’s grounds near Kingwood, is a free alternative education, quasi-military program designed for educationally at-risk teens. Both male and female students ages 16-19 from across the state are admitted to the 22-week, live-on-campus program designed to both prepare students for the GED exam and teach “life skills.”

Hugh Dopson, academy director, called Atkinson earlier this summer and asked if he would speak at the Washington fundraiser.

He was asked to the tell the crowd about Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy and how it affected him.

The challenge academy, he said, has totally changed his life for the better.

In the past, Atkinson said, he frequently missed school and “goofed off” when he did attend classes. His goals and plans for the future — if he really had them — were not large.

“I was just trying to get through high school. I wanted out of there,” he said. “And if I got a job, great. If not, oh well.”

During his junior year of high school, his mother read a story about the academy in a newspaper and asked if he would be interested. Six or seven months later, he found himself at Camp Dawson, questioning his decision at first. The quasi-military environment was no place to goof off.

“I learned that all didn’t revolve around me,” he said. “I thought I could goof around and laugh. I made a joke to one of my squad leaders, and I had to do push-ups — about 50 or 60.

“I really liked Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy. Once I got used to it, I saw it was definitely the change I needed, giving me structure and discipline. I would definitely recommend it to anyone else.”

The “life skills” lessons the academy taught were useful, Atkinson said. Some coursework involved money management. Before he had that class, he basically spent paychecks as soon as he cashed them. While he may splurge from time to time, he now has a better grip on his finances.

Atkinson said he also learned to appreciate his family more. During the first few weeks, the only communication students have with family is through letters. He first thought he would enjoy not having his parents “gripe” all the time. It only took a week for him to miss them. He also has much better manners and respect for others.

“I wasn’t a punk kid anymore,” he said. “I have respect for people — a lot more respect.”

Atkinson now holds down a job at Massey Energy’s Progress Coal in Whitesville.

The Harley was raffled as a door prize during the Washington fundraiser, Atkinson explained. Another man won the raffle, but Patrick Kiernan, president of the K-Con contracting firm in Charleston, S.C., stood up in front of the crowd. He offered the winner money for the motorcycle and said he would donate to YouthQuest. The winner accepted the money.

Then, Kiernan said he wanted to give the Harley to Atkinson, saying he wanted to reward him for his major turnaround.

“You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face,” Atkinson said.

Today, Atkinson will attend a motorcycle safety course so he can get the endorsement he needs to ride the Harley. He noted the bike has never been ridden.

Russ Sterling, an admissions counselor for Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy, said Atkinson standing before a large group in Washington and having the confidence to speak well enough for someone to give him a Harley show what cadets can eventually accomplish.

“A lot of them can’t look you in the eye (at first),” Sterling said. “But eventually, they can speak from the heart.

“When I speak to kids in high schools, I tell them that one thing they get besides an education is self-discipline. Once you accomplish that, you can accomplish anything you want. That’s the biggest asset you can have.”

Sterling noted the academy is accepting applications for its January class. For more information, call 1-800-529-7700 or visit www.wvchallenge .org.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com