2009-11-03: Students graduate from Basic Law Enforcement Training program

	Isothermal News
Students graduate from Basic Law Enforcement Training program SPINDALE (Nov. 1, 2009) - Thirteen students recently graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Isothermal Community College after completing nearly ten months of training. The BLET program is the state-mandated course of study for anyone interested in becoming a certified law enforcement officer. The 13 students who completed the program underwent training in 35 topics including criminal law, arrest, search, and seizure, driver training, defense tactics, firearms, and other related law enforcement topics.
Thirteen students recently graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at Isothermal Community College. The graduates are Maria Forney Hines (front row, left to right), Darren Shaun Mills, Reiko Lamar Haynes, Keith Charles Baker, Aaron Blake Hudson, Guy Michael Wheeler and Mark Brian McCracken; Benjamin Martin King (back row, left to right, Ronald Max “Bucky” Higgins, Matthew Ryan Owens, Joshua Wayne Bridges, Nicholas Brett Walker and Darren Tyler Vance.
The students receiving a graduation certificate for the 645-hour training program included Keith Charles Baker, Joshua Wayne Bridges, Reiko Lamar Haynes, Ronald Max “Bucky” Higgins, Maria Forney Hines, Aaron Blake Hudson, Benjamin Martin King, Mark Brian McCracken, Darren Shaun Mills, Matthew Ryan Owens, Darren Tyler Vance, Nicholas Brett Walker and Guy Michael Wheeler. After an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance led by instructors Carl Jackson and Kenny Kempster, the audience was welcomed by Dr. Kim Gold, vice president of Academic and Student Services and Institutional Assessment. Jackson gave an overview of the program before graduate Baker addressed his classmates. After the awards and certificates were presented, Don Brown of Gideon’s International led the group in the Law Enforcement Prayer of Safety and Protection. Then, Baker led the final roll call for his class. Individual awards were presented to a number of students for top performance in various categories. Bridges earned the awards for Top Academics, Top State Exam and Top Firearms Training. Walker received the Top Driver Training Award. Vance was recognized with the Top Physical Fitness and Top POPAT awards. McCracken earned the Most Improved PE Award. Baker received the Top Subject Control Award. King and Baker were named Top Students. This is the 58th BLET class to graduate from Isothermal Community College since it began conducting the training in the late 1970’s. ~
Mike Gavin Director of Marketing and Community Relations Isothermal Community College mgavin@isothermal.edu 828-286-3636, ext. 206 www.isothermal.edu *Creating Success, Hope, Opportunity, Jobs*
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