“Each day we had to get up at 5 a.m. and do physical training and then we moved on to lectures, tours, exercises — you name it,” Tew says. “I’m very interested in the highway patrol as a career and now I have a lot of respect for them, a lot of pride in what they do and how the officers represent North Carolina.”
Tew, 20, attends Sandhills Community College where he is enrolled in their criminal justice program. He earned his diploma from North Moore in 2000. He was a member of the cross-country team. He is the son of R.L. Tew of Robbins and Connie Tew of Troy.
“The troopers actually go through 28 weeks of training,” Tew says. “It’s like a boot camp-style thing that is physically challenging and full of lots of things to do on deadline. There’s a lot of pressure involved.”
Forty-six other high school students from across North Carolina joined Tew as he earned a certificate from the Ninth Annual North Carolina American Legion Student Trooper Program. The graduates were sworn in at the ceremony at the Highway Patrol Training Center staff.
“These young people are getting a taste of what it takes to be in the law enforcement or criminal justice careers,” says 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 State of America.”
Tew agreed the program taught him a better appreciation of the state and its history.
“Troopers have a lot of integrity and professionalism as well as a long history of standing up for residents,” Tew says.
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.
Also, the cadets were treated to tours of the Governor’s Mansion, the Wake County courthouse and Wake County jail, and the General Assembly, among other stops.
Tew’s week at the center was sponsored by the American Legion Post 350 of Pinehurst.
“I am so thankful for this opportunity,” Tew says.
To qualify for admission to the program, students must be of good moral character and they must demonstrate qualities of patriotism and leadership. Any American Legion Post in the state may sponsor a student by raising the $160 tuition fee and assuming responsibility for attendance and transportation.
