Sooner Job ChalleNGe

09/14/2026

Another adult moment...A few of our associates went to the Oklahoma Works-Oklahoma City Center Job Fair this morning and were able to connect with employers who are hiring right now. We wish them Good Luck!
Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

09/14/2026

Our associates got to go to Main Event this weekend. Fun was had by all!😃

09/11/2026

Sooner Job Challenge Graduates/Current Associates:
Join us at the Oklahoma Works-Oklahoma City Center Job Fair and connect with employers who are hiring right now.

When: Monday, September 14, 2026, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Where: 5005 N. Lincoln Blvd, OKC, OK 73105

Job seekers will be able to:

✅ Chat directly with recruiters

✅ Apply for jobs on the spot

✅ Get tips from career experts

✅ Network with other job seekers

Bring your resume, dress to impress, and get ready to make connections that could change your future.

See attached flyer for more details/QR codes.

Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

09/11/2026

Through collaboration with Metro Tech, our Associates are able to gain real-world experience in programs like Welding. Graduates leave our program ready for entry-level employment and prepared with a strong foundation to launch their careers. Lincoln Electric's welding equipment and clothes are used in the class.

09/10/2026

Want to make a difference in young people's lives? Come work for us!

Explore career opportunities with Sooner Job Challenge. Check back soon for staff openings in mentorship, training, and program support roles in OKC.

09/09/2026

Our goal is to build a character of accountability and servant leadership in our Associates, while giving back to the community that supports us. We partner with a variety of community organizations, and each Associate is required to complete 20 hours of community service to graduate from our program.

If you have a community project that needs some extra hands, contact us and see if we can help you.

Learn More:
https://soonerjobchallenge.org/get-involved/service-to-community/

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

Our weekends are filled with recreational outings and activities. Today the associates were able to go to the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman. There they had the opportunity to see many different exhibits and learn about each one. Check out all the fun.

09/04/2026

One part of the SJC Eight Core Components is Community Building
& Outreach. Our students are given weekly opportunities to do some form of community service to give back to the local community. This week, they went to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma where they learned on average, the Regional Food Bank distributes 50 million pounds of food each year to Oklahomans living with hunger.

Some associates packed individual meals while others packed boxes of assorted breads. At the end of their time there, they helped pack 304 boxes of bread and 5,066 total meals. That's a LOT of food for the hungry.

09/04/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sooner Job Challenge Program is Now Accredited

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — On August 24, 2026, the Sooner Job ChalleNGe (SJC) program was awarded accreditation by the Beacon Education Institute (BEI).

According to BEI, Sooner Job Challenge represents a distinctive educational model designed to serve graduates of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program through an intensive residential, educational, career-training, and workforce-development experience. The BEI accreditation review focused primarily upon the educational program and those organizational systems and associate-support services that contribute to successful educational outcomes.

BEI recognizes that Sooner Job Challenge operates within a unique National Guard structure and therefore does not function as a traditional school. The accreditation review considered the specialized mission, population, organizational structure, and educational delivery model of SJC when determining the effectiveness and quality of its educational program.

Sooner Job Challenge provides a highly specialized educational opportunity for young people who have successfully completed a National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Associates enter SJC with differing academic histories, educational needs, career interests, and post-program goals. The educational model responds to these differences through individualized academic pathways leading toward a high school diploma or high school equivalency while simultaneously providing access to career and technical education and industry-recognized credentials.

A significant strength of the program is the deliberate connection between education, workforce preparation, leadership development, personal responsibility, and post-program transition. Associates are not simply working toward academic completion; they are preparing for employment, continued education, or military service.

The review found particularly strong evidence within the educational component of the program. Instruction is individualized according to associate needs, academic progress is monitored, associates receive instructional assistance when they encounter difficulty, and educational leadership maintains communication with partnering technical programs regarding associate progress.

Most importantly, the experiences described by associates strongly corroborated the educational practices described by program leadership. Associates expressed confidence in the instructional support they receive, valued the career and technical opportunities available to them, and recognized the program’s contribution to their preparation for life beyond SJC.

Overall, the evidence demonstrates an educational program with a clear mission, strong academic and workforce connections, committed personnel, meaningful opportunities for associates, and significant potential for continued growth.