Front row, left to right: Natalie Bittner, Norman Bogdan, Nicolas Moore, Hannah Derrickson, Damien McCray. Second row, left to right: Aydan Schwark, Riley Long, Kolin Hamilton, Nathan Steffens, Tyler Hanson, Stuart Wollangk. Third row, left to right: Isaiah Sobers, John Zurick, Matthew Mordhorst, Nicholas Spang, Eric Jones Jr., Ryan Simonson, Ivan Belmontes.
Blackhawk Technical College held a special ceremony Friday to recognize the efforts of 18 students who completed training through its Law Enforcement Recruit Academy.
This was the 94th class to graduate from the academy, which provides the basic law enforcement training required to become a law enforcement officer in Wisconsin.
“It never gets old to see these men and women in uniform,” Troy Egger, Academy Director, said to the graduates. “This is the 11th graduation I’ve seen.” He added, “The skills these students learn will help them save lives.”
Ryan Simonson, class speaker, thanked faculty, classmates, his personal support network and everyone involved in helping him through the academy.
“Everyone in this class showed strength and perseverance throughout the process,” said Simonson, who works for the Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
Lt. Richard LeFeber received the Instructor of Excellence Award from the graduates.
“All the instructors at Blackhawk do an excellent job,” he advised the graduates. “When you make mistakes, learn and move on.”
Chief Deputy Jude Maurer of the Rock County Sheriff’s Office was the keynote speaker. He encouraged the graduates to maintain their mental resilience–this means understanding which things can be controlled and which things can’t be controlled.
“Law enforcement is an honorable and noble profession,” he said.
Two students also were recognized for four different awards of excellence:
Academic Achievement Award: Ryan Simonson
This award is given to the student with the highest achievement for each of the three end-of-phase tests. The class had a 90-percent average. Simonson had more than 96 percent.
Outstanding Physical Fitness Award: Riley Long
To graduate, each student must pass a physical readiness test. This award is given to the student who demonstrated outstanding physical fitness and showed the most effort in the 32 hours of physical fitness throughout the past 18 weeks.
Ryan Copeland Marksmanship Award Recipient: Ryan Simonson
This award is named after Officer Ryan Copeland, a 2013 academy graduate who was killed in an on-duty traffic crash in 2015, and is given to a student who is ranked top in the class for marksmanship.
Terry Fell Leadership Award: Ryan Simonson
This award is named after Terry Fell, who was the academy director for 10 years and a former City of Beloit Police Chief, Rock County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy and Rock County Board member. Fell’s legacy is of leadership, honor and sense of duty. The award is given to a student who embodies those characteristics.
Members of Class 25-94:
- Ivan Belmontes, Beloit Police Department
- Natalie Bittner, Town of Beloit Police Department
- Norman Bogdan, Janesville Police Department
- Hannah Derrickson, Mt. Horeb Police Department
- Kolin Hamilton, Rock County Sheriff's Office
- Tyler Hanson, Evansville Police Department
- Eric Jones Jr., Town of Geneva Police Department
- Riley Long, Rock County Sheriff's Office
- Damien McCray, Beloit Police Department
- Nicolas Moore, Milton Police Department
- Matthew Mordhorst, Green County Sheriff's Office
- Aydan Schwark, Evansville Police Department
- Ryan Simonson, Rock County Sheriff's Office
- Isaiah Sobers, Beloit Police Department
- Nicholas Spang, Edgerton Police Department
- Nathan Steffens, Janesville Police Department
- Stuart Wollangk, Sheboygan Police Department
- John Zurick, Janesville Police Department
Blackhawk will hold two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 17, at The Dream Center, 2460 Milwaukee Road, Beloit. The 9 a.m. ceremony will include graduates from Blackhawk’s University Transfer, Business, and Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Technology & Transportation division programs. The 11:30 a.m. ceremony will include graduates from Health and Public Safety programs.
About the Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Academy
Blackhawk’s Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Academy prepares students for certification as a law enforcement officer. Over a course of 720 instructional hours, recruits focus on the theories of law enforcement needed to be a sworn member of law enforcement in Wisconsin. In addition to the class instruction and hands-on practical exercises, recruits spend at least half an hour of outside study time for every hour of class time. Upon completion, recruits are eligible for certification with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Learn more at blackhawk.edu/recruitacademy.