Students graduate from the WVSA Youth Leadership Academy

GLENVILLE, W.Va. (WBOY) — Even though the week of diverse adventures for the cadets of the West Virginia Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Academy is over, this is just the beginning of their law enforcement endeavors.

On Friday, the West Virginia Sheriff’s Association hosted a graduation ceremony for the 61 cadets who enrolled in this year’s Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Academy at Glenville State University.

Students from the first through the last grades of high school who participated in the program came from 19 districts across the state and spent a week at the Glenville campus, learning basics about bullying, drug awareness and the importance of respectful citizenship.

Cadets also had the opportunity to participate in various activities such as mock trials, clay pigeon shooting, and CPR training. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department even helped with bomb demonstrations, allowing students to see the action firsthand.

12 News spoke with Dave Gosa, Lewis County Sheriff and academy commander, about the importance of offering this program to high school students.

“It’s a really good camp, it’s definitely worth it. A lot of kids take something home with them after coming here, they learn something. A lot of these kids plan on having a career in law enforcement, so it’s a win-win for the West Virginia Sheriff’s Association that puts on this camp,” Gosa said.

This is the academy’s 94th year and the second year it has been held on the campus of Glenville State University.

The graduation ceremony began on Friday with cadets marching and shouting from their dormitories to the auditorium where awards and certificates were presented.

Applications for the Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Academy typically open at the beginning of the year and can be found on the West Virginia Sheriff’s Association website.