Date:   July 2, 2004
Contact:  Everett Clendenin
Phone:  919-733-5027

"STUDENT TROOPERS" GRADUATE FROM AMERICAN LEGION PROGRAM

 RALEIGH - Forty-three high school students from across North Carolina recently graduated from the Eleventh Annual North Carolina American Legion Student Trooper Program. They were sworn in at a ceremony at the Highway Patrol Training Center in Raleigh.

"These young people are getting a taste of what it takes to be in law enforcement or criminal justice careers," said Frank Stancil of the American Legion Student Trooper Program. "We also hope they learn to better appreciate how fortunate they are to live in a great country like the United States of America."

The weeklong program was created to foster understanding between young people and law enforcement officers. The students learned about the criminal justice system and participated in physical training while living at the Training Center. They also received instruction on first aid, speed monitoring, drunk and drugged driving enforcement and prevention, firearm safety, precision driving, and accident investigation.

The Student Trooper Program staff is composed of members of the American Legion and the Highway Patrol Training Center staff.

To qualify for admission to the program, rising seniors must be of good moral character and demonstrate qualities of patriotism and leadership. Any American Legion Post in North Carolina may sponsor a student by raising the $200 tuition fee and assuming responsibility for attendance and transportation.

A list of graduates, their hometowns, and their sponsoring American Legion Post is below: