VGCC graduates eight Law Enforcement Cadets in School’s 92nd BLET Class
Eight cadets graduated on May 17, 2011 from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) course at Vance-Granville Community College in a ceremony held in the Civic Center on Main Campus. After passing the state certification exam, all are authorized to work in any law enforcement agency in North Carolina.
Graduates of VGCC’s 92nd BLET class included Ronnie Lee McAdams of Butner Public Safety; Jeffery Rowlee Eddy, Timothy Michael Joyner, Damion Linder and Chad David Yurich, all of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Scott Vernon Chestnut of the Hillsborough Police Department; Adam Caleb Hight and Zachary Allen Phillips.
Tony Pendergrass, the VGCC coordinator of law enforcement training, praised the class for completing 624 hours of grueling training over 16 weeks. Pendergrass also thanked the 45 instructors who helped train the class, the local sheriffs, chiefs of police and administrators who support the program, and the families and friends who supported and encouraged the students.
BLET students chose Inspector Matthew Nies of the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, a part-time instructor for the VGCC program, as their guest speaker. He commended the graduates for completing what he called “one of the best BLET programs” in North Carolina. “Our program tries very hard to get them ready for their careers,” Nies said. “It’s tougher than most, and I certainly wouldn’t want it any other way.” Nies challenged each cadet to be “an officer of honor and integrity” and added, “I would not hesitate to work with any one of you. You all have what it takes to be successful.” Cadet Ronnie McAdams spoke on behalf of his fellow graduates. “The long days and stress have all been worth it,” McAdams said. “I know that all the cadets are going to make great law enforcement officers, and it will be because of the training we received from Vance-Granville Community College.”
Nies and VGCC law enforcement/corrections instructor Greg Hughes formally presented certificates to the graduates. Pendergrass handed out awards to the top students in the class in three categories. Damion Linder won the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest accuracy score in weapons firing. Chad Yurich took both the Physical Training Award for scoring highest in the various fitness tests the cadets undergo, as well as the Academic Achievement Award for having the top grade average in the 35 written tests each cadet must take and pass. For more information on the BLET program , contact Tony Pendergrass .
Above: Graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Class 92, included, front row, from left: Scott Vernon Chestnut, Adam Caleb Hight, Ronnie Lee McAdams and Timothy Michael Joyner; back row, from left: Jeffery Rowlee Eddy, Zachary Allen Phillips, Damion Linder, Chad David Yurich, with law enforcement training coordinator Tony Pendergrass. (VGCC Photo)
