Wayne Community College has graduated its 86th class of Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) cadets.
Each graduate successfully completed 648 hours of instruction and earned a certificate that will allow them to work as a sworn law enforcement officer in North Carolina. The class also achieved a 100% pass rate on the state exam required for their certification.
During the program’s graduation ceremony, WCC President Patty Pfeiffer spoke about the hard work, resilience, and growth of the graduates that will prepare them for their careers. “The difference you will make in the lives of others cannot be overstated,” she said. “We are incredibly proud of all that you have achieved and look forward to the positive impact you will make in the world of law enforcement.”
WCC Vice President of Academic and Student Services Brandon Jenkins recognized the challenging journey of the cadets and commended them for their courage and service to others. “These young men and women sitting before you tonight have chosen a profession that is noble beyond words, and they’ve chosen the path that is not always the easiest,” he said.
Cadets Isabelle Hernandez and Devontay Richardson offered remarks on behalf of their class during the ceremony.
Hernandez said that although the cadets came from all walks of life, they were united in their support for one another. “Let us never forget the real reason we have decided to take this task upon us and serve our community,” Hernandez said to her fellow graduates. “When times get tough, may we never lose our integrity and composure for those we protect.”
Richardson reflected on the rigorous training the class endured and how it caused them to grow closer. “As a class, we shared a lot in the academy. When we argued or felt like giving up, we still pushed each other forward, sharing one common goal: to graduate,” he said. “That taught me the power of teamwork and the importance of not giving up on each other.”
During the ceremony, several awards were presented to graduates with outstanding performance in various areas.
The Physical Fitness Award was presented to Dexter Howell. Cadets were tasked with completing the Police Officer’s Physical Abilities Test and various other physical events in the academy, including a timed mile-and-a-half run. This award was given to Howell for exemplifying hard work and teamwork and achieving the highest overall physical fitness score in the class.
Nathan Jensen earned the Top Gun Award for excelling in the academy’s firearms portion, which consists of over forty hours of training.
Samuel Ford was named as the recipient of the Leadership Award. He was recognized as someone who embodied leadership principles throughout the academy, always cheering on his classmates and helping to strengthen them to achieve their goals.
The Major Jay R. Memmelaar Student Excellence Award was given to Taylor Bowen as the student with the highest academic average who has excelled throughout the academy. A check from the George D. Williams Foundation was presented along with the award. Williams was a significant supporter of public safety and law enforcement.
WCC Dean of Public Safety Angie Blizzard said the cadets are now part of a family within their profession. “You came into this academy as individuals, each with your own reasons for choosing this path,” she said. “No matter what your reason was for starting this journey, you started it as individuals, but now you leave as one team—a team that has tested, has trained, has struggled, and has persevered together.”
Blizzard encouraged the graduates to keep learning and to remember the accountability that comes with wearing a law enforcement officer’s badge. “The badge is not the end goal; it is the beginning of a promise,” Blizzard said. “It is a promise to serve with honor, to protect with courage, and to uphold the law with fairness and empathy.”
The 14 BLET graduates, listed by city of residence, are
Deep Run
Joseluis Perry Leon
Dudley
Samuel Matthew Ford
Goldsboro
Carly Michelle Boyette
Dexter Lanier Howell
Nathan Charles Jensen
Julian Lamont Lucas
William Lamar Ohnmeiss
Devontay Shaquan Richardson
Ean Cecil Wade
Greenville
Isabelle Marie Hernandez
Hookerton
Taylor Nicole Bowen
La Grange
Sergio Chavez-Garcia
Seven Springs
William Lassiter McCollum
Willow Spring
David Allen Meyrick
BLET is a state-accredited program mandated by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission through the NC Community College System.
WCC’s BLET academy has graduated around 1,300 students who work for approximately 53 different law enforcement agencies on the local, county, and state levels.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves around 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 150 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.