Pierre, Winner, other high school students graduate today from Youth Trooper Academy

High school students from Pierre, Winner and 16 other South Dakota school districts got an inside look this week at the diversity involved in the career of a highway patrol trooper.

Col. Rick Miller, superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol, says students had opportunities to learn about everything from traffic stops and DUI detection to crash investigation and firearm safety. He says academy participants were selected by representatives from the Highway Patrol and American Legion. Most students are high school juniors or seniors.

Graduation for the 11th annual Youth Trooper Academy participants is today (June 30, 2023) at the Mickelson Law Enforcement Training Center in Pierre.

The academy is sponsored by the Highway Patrol and South Dakota American Legion.

Those attending the Youth Trooper Academy and their high schools are:

• Kyera Sivage, Pierre T.F. Riggs;

• Sunny Hall, Pierre T.F. Riggs;

• Joshua Vermundson, Pierre T.F. Riggs;

• Emily Sachtjen, Winner High School;

• Kalie Barcklay, Centerville High School;

• Victor Collins, Douglas High School;

• Bryce Crawford, Tea Area High School;

• Colin DeGarmo, Douglas High School;

• Brandon Forrette, Huron High School;

• Case Gunnell, Central High School;

• Travis Harms, Harrisburg High School;

• Cheyenne Hunnewell, Bon Homme High School;

• Jayce Kuechenmeister, Brookings High School;

• Carter Locy, Sioux Falls Jefferson;

• Olivia Meehan, Madison High School;

• Bryce Mitchell, Lead/Deadwood High School;

• Sarah Poncelow, Wessington Springs;

• Nikolos Sasse, Yankton High School;

• Jake Simonsen, West Central;

• Nathanael VanGerpen, Gayville-Volin High School;

• Jaden Wajer, Dell Rapids High School;

• Zayne Winson, Huron High School.