Earlier this month, Commissioner Robert Evanchick announced that 98 cadets graduated from the State Police Academy in Hershey and have been assigned to troops across the commonwealth. The men and women represent the 156th graduating cadet class. Two of those graduates are natives from Schuylkill County.The ceremony at the Scottish Rite Cathedral marked the culmination of 28 weeks of classroom and physical training. Cadet Zachary M. McKeehan, of Huntingdon County, spoke on behalf of the graduating class.
Seven cadets received special awards and recognition at the ceremony:
The American Legion Award, presented to the most outstanding cadet in recognition of all-around academic, physical, ethical, and moral qualifications: Zachary M. McKeehan, Huntingdon County and Richard E Whitehouse Jr., Lancaster County
The Colonel Ronald L. Sharpe Award, presented to the cadet who most exemplifies the qualities of leadership: Jeffrey J. Miller, Luzerne County
The Colonel John K. Schafer Award, presented to the cadet who achieved the highest combined score on a series of physical skills tests: Stephen M. Fullwood, Allegheny County
The Commissioner Daniel F. Dunn Award, presented to the cadet who earned the highest level of academic achievement in the class: Sean T. Dougherty, Delaware County
The Colonel Paul J. Chylak Award, presented to the cadet who demonstrated the highest proficiency in driver safety training: Brandon D. Marshall, Butler County
The Sergeant Charles B. Gesford Award, presented to the cadet who scored the highest on the department's pistol qualification course: Steve R. Ross, Lawrence County
Two of the graduates were from Schuylkill County, Charles A. Blesse was assigned to Troop M in Fogelsville, and Ryan R. Sverchek was assigned to Troop B in Waynesburg.
Statewide, the graduates have been assigned to the following troops:
Troop B, Belle Vernon
Joshua M. Alberts of Allegheny County
Bradley A. Kelly of Allegheny County
Troop B, Uniontown
Andrew C. Barney of Erie County
Thomas A. Hisker of Westmoreland County
Paul J. Narcum Jr. of Luzerne County
Robert P. Rawley of Montgomery County
Steve R. Ross of Lawrence County
Troop B, Washington
Jonathan T.F. Baird of Allegheny County
Stephen M. Fullwood of Allegheny County
Brandon D. Marshall of Butler County
Troop B, Waynesburg
Ryan R. Sverchek of Schuylkill County
Troop C, Clarion
David G. McBride of Lawrence County
Troop C, Clearfield
Lindsey A. Thompson of Honolulu, Hawaii
Troop C, Lewis Run
Matthew D. Lindholm of Jefferson County
Michael J. Reese of Westmoreland County
Carlos R. Sanchez of Dauphin County
Eric B. Swartz of Monongalia County, West Virginia
Troop C, Punxsutawney
Alex R. Burkett of Clearfield County
Clinton L. Deemer of Butler County
Troop D, Kittanning
Chad K. Krumpe of Butler County
Troop E, Corry
Adam B. Kalivoda of Erie County
Troop E, Meadville
Jacob W. Foley of Chautauqua County
Troop F, Coudersport
Philip A. Corrado of Luzerne County
Francis J. Vanore of Philadelphia County
Troop F, Emporium
Mick J. Johnson of Warren County
Israel T. Moore of Providence County, Rhode Island
Troop F, Mansfield
Luke J. Handwerger of Potter County
Troop F, Milton
Tyler D. Arbogast of Snyder County
Richard W. Camerer of Clinton County
Troop F, Selinsgrove
Samuel L. Kuhns of Snyder County
Kevin M. Shields Jr. of Pike County
Troop G, Bedford
Avery S. Deskevich of Somerset County
William E. Green Jr. of Beaver County
Nathan D. Smith of Bradford County
Troop G, Huntingdon
Brian D. Morrow of Crawford County
Steven M. Potynski Jr. of Bucks County
Troop G, Lewistown
Gregory D. Kurtz of Huntingdon County
Ryan P. Ziegler of Northampton County
Troop G, Rockview
Shane R. Eichelberger of Bedford County
Troop H, Chambersburg
Joshua K. Dunkle of Delaware County
Nickolaus L. Marple of Tioga County
Jeffrey J. Miller of Luzerne County
Troop H, Gettysburg
Logan A. Howell of Adams County
Zachary C. Swartz of Butler County
Troop H, Lykens
James K. Salvo of Montgomery County
Troop H, Newport
Jason S. Elliott of York County
Troop J, Avondale
Tyler F. Ciccione of Chester County
Sean E. Dougherty of Delaware County
Tara E. Gassenmeyer of Chester County
Alexander Z. Rankovich of Carbon County
Simeon S. Schauman of Chautauqua County, New York
Jonathan W. Uren of Clearfield County
Troop J, Embreeville
Ian R. Hopkins of Monroe County
John J. Prentice of Centre County
Nicholas J. Salak of Westmoreland County
Aimee J. Yandrisevits of Berks County
Troop J, Lancaster
Steven A. Kase Jr. of Lancaster County
Jason R. Krause of Lancaster County
Ryan N. Waters of Delaware County
Richard E. Whitehouse of Lancaster County
Troop J, York
Steven E. Galbraith of Lebanon County
Thomas E. Kline of Dauphin County
David J. Linton of York County
John M. Sempa of Lackawanna County
Waylon J. Smith of Bradford County
Eric C. Whited of Luzerne County
Troop K, Media
Nayirrah Bellinger of Philadelphia County
Hunter J. Freeman of Philadelphia County
Joseph R. Garback of Delaware County
Joshua T. Hahn of Philadelphia County
Nicholas D. Mazza of Montgomery County
Vincent Trivarelli of Dauphin County
Troop K, Skippack
Lefter Kondili of Philadelphia County
Troop L, Jonestown
Stephen J. Stahl of York County
Troop M, Bethlehem
Michael J. Coleman of Northampton County
Taylor A. Dietrich of Lehigh County
Matthew Gill of Lehigh County
Peter G. Hamati-Attieh of Lehigh County
Bernard J. Popson of Luzerne County
Jason L. Witmer of York County
Troop M, Dublin
Anthony J. Carbone of Bucks County
Pawel Jelski of Bucks County
Troop M, Fogelsville
Charles A. Blesse of Schuylkill County
Anthony F. Desando Jr. of Lackawanna County
Troop N, Fern Ridge
Kevin M. Harry of Luzerne County
Troop N, Stroudsburg
Thomas B. Gallagher of Ulster County, New York
Zachary M. McKeehan of Huntingdon County
Joseph J. Perechinsky of Lackawanna County
Zachary L. Railing of Berks County
Troop P, Towanda
Ryan J. Joyce of Luzerne County
Stephen M. Lehner Jr. of Luzerne County
Gregory A. Myers of Centre County
Kyle G. Schiltz of Chester County
William E. Shreve of Butler County
Nathan L. Smith of Cambria County
Troop R, Blooming Grove
Michael L. Oplinger of Westmoreland County
Philip C. Semenza III of Luzerne County
Troop R, Gibson
Michael J. Maguire of Lackawanna County