BOONE, N.C. — On Aug. 24, Appalachian State University’s Appalachian Police Academy celebrated its seventh annual graduation ceremony, with 20 new graduates joining a group of nearly 140 police officers trained through App State’s Police Officer Development Program (APDP) to date.
The ceremony, held in Rosen Concert Hall on App State’s Boone campus, included the presentation of awards of distinction, as well as two class speakers and remarks from academy instructor Lt. Stephen Raby of Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office — a guest speaker chosen by the students.
“We are incredibly proud of our students at App State who are, and have been, engaged in our Police Officer Development Program,” said Interim App State Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Johnny Brown. “They go above and beyond the requirements to become police officers in the state of North Carolina.”
Brown also spoke on the importance of establishing connections between police training programs and local organizations.
“We collaborate with local organizations to create training programs for police officers that not only prepare recruits and educate them well but also meet the needs of the communities they will serve,” said Brown. “Our goal with this program is to continue to train educated and compassionate police officers who are passionate about serving others and finding creative ways to address challenges.”
App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell, left in foreground, congratulates Hunter Westbrooks, a senior criminal justice major from Mebane, right in foreground, awarding him with his certificate of completion from the Appalachian Police Academy, a component of the university’s Appalachian Police Officer Development Program. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
The Appalachian Police Academy’s seventh graduation ceremony in Rosen Concert Hall on the App State Boone campus included much laughter, as students, academy instructors and Appalachian Police Department leadership reminisced about the summer’s training, activities and memorable moments. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Caitlyn Howell, Finn Greer, Katherine Grady and Benjamin Engel. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
APDP is a two-year program available to all full-time App State students pursuing any academic major or course of study. The program includes the Appalachian Police Academy, a fully accredited Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) school through which recruits complete the training to become sworn police officers in North Carolina.
When cadets enter the academy in their second year of the program, they become police recruits and will complete more than 700 training hours, exceeding the BLET standard of 640 hours of training. Their training includes:
- First responder training, in which recruits learn basic life support skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of automated external defibrillators (AED) and critical first aid skills.
- De-escalation training, in which recruits learn techniques and strategies to defuse potentially dangerous situations.
- Communication skills training, in which recruits develop the skills they will use to help guide, organize, respond to and better understand the needs of others in the community.
App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell, left in foreground, congratulates Appalachian Police Academy graduate Seth Brown, right in foreground, who was recognized with the Top Driver Award. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell welcomes families, friends and colleagues to the seventh annual graduation ceremony of the university’s Appalachian Police Academy, held Aug. 24 in Rosen Concert Hall on the Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Prior to the start of the Appalachian Police Academy’s graduation ceremony, held Aug. 24 on the Boone campus, App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell, far right, leads the recruits in the Pledge of Allegiance. Pictured, from left to right, are Appalachian Police Academy graduates Benjamin Engel, Averie DiBenedetto, Erin Chetty, Dylann Caban, Seth Brown and Avery Bowen. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Appalachian Police Academy graduate and Top Gun Award recipient Logan Seiler, center, is pictured with his mother and father, Maggie and Brent Seiler, outside App State’s Rosen Concert Hall on the Boone campus. The Appalachian Police Academy’s seventh annual graduation ceremony was held Aug. 24. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Appalachian Police Academy graduate and Female Physical Fitness Award recipient Laney Mantz, second from left in the first row, celebrates with her family outside Rosen Concert Hall on App State’s Boone campus. Pictured with Mantz, from left to right, are Anthony Iovino, Kasey Sullivan, Robert Sullivan, Kaitlyn Sullivan, Jim DeAugustinis, Audrey DeAugustinis, Casey Iorio, Alyssa Iorio and Carl Mohan. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Hunter Westbrooks, a senior criminal justice major from Mebane, poses outside Rosen Concert Hall on App State’s Boone campus, displaying the two awards of distinction he earned in the 2024 Appalachian Police Academy — the culmination of the Appalachian Police Officer Development Program at App State. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Appalachian Police Academy graduate Karen Rivera, second from right, celebrates graduation day with her family at Rosen Concert Hall on the App State Boone campus. Pictured with Rivera, from left to right, are Israel Rivera, Ana Lucia Gregorio Rivera, Elodia Rivera and Fermin Gregorio. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Appalachian Police Academy graduates share smiles outside App State’s Rosen Concert Hall, where the Appalachian Police Academy’s seventh annual graduation ceremony was held on Aug. 24. Pictured, from left to right, are Eleanor Schoel, Finn Greer and Anthony Paolino. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Appalachian Police Academy graduate Dylann Caban is pictured outside App State’s Rosen Concert Hall, holding a bouquet and her certificate of completion from the academy. The Appalachian Police Academy’s seventh annual graduation ceremony was held Aug. 24 on the Boone campus. Photo by Troy Tuttle
Appalachian Police Academy graduate Benjamin Engel hugs a family friend, Deanna Haydel, after the academy’s seventh annual graduation ceremony at Rosen Concert Hall on Aug. 24. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
After completing the academy, Appalachian Police Academy graduates work part time with the Appalachian Police Department (APD) as sworn police officers until they graduate from App State with their degrees.
App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell, director of police development and professional standards and APDP director, opened the graduation ceremony and highlighted the hard work of the recruits and their instructors over the summer.
“Two of the biggest reasons for our students’ success are the students themselves and our instructors; they put in many hours of work, and we are very proud of them all,” said Mitchell.
The ceremony’s two class speakers — Laney Mantz, a junior criminal justice major from Morganton, and Xavier McMurtry, a senior criminal justice major from Hickory — reflected on the lessons they learned from instructors and mentors during the academy.
Mantz highlighted the intense BLET training, as well as the values within the law enforcement profession, such as integrity and service to others.
“The badge is not merely a symbol of authority but a representation of trust and responsibility,” said Mantz. “As we step into this new role as police officers, we must always embrace the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Lt. Stephen Raby of Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office speaks at the seventh annual Appalachian Police Academy graduation ceremony, held Aug. 24 on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Pictured in front of App State’s Rosen Concert Hall on the Boone campus are, from left to right, Appalachian Police Academy graduates Dylann Caban, Rosaisela “Rosie” Luviano-Chavez and Katherine Grady, accompanied by App State Police Master Police Officer Cashae Cook. Photo by Troy Tuttle
In his remarks, McMurtry noted, “Whatever we went through, we did it as a team. We have become a family, and this is the most important thing we have gained from this summer. We may one day be in different states and working for different agencies, but I know that wherever we go, we will continue to be there for one another.”
Raby reflected on his time working with recruits: “It amazed me how much each recruit worked to retain and hold on to every word that the instructors shared. This showed passion to want to learn, to better yourself and to be the best you can be.
“Each one of you has the opportunity to be the difference in someone else’s life,” Raby added.
Mitchell also thanked both App State and community partners for their academy support, which include App State’s Parking and Transportation, University Communications, University College, Facilities Operations and Hayes School of Music, along with Watauga High School, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute for their ongoing partnership with App State’s APDP program.
“Each of you helps to make this academy a success,” said Mitchell.
What do you think?
Share your feedback on this story.
App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell, right in foreground, presents Appalachian Police Academy graduate and Grizzly Award recipient Eleanor Schoel, left in foreground, with a special memento — a traffic cone — during the academy’s seventh annual graduation ceremony, held Aug. 24. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State senior Logan Seiler, a graduate of App State’s Appalachian Police Academy, center, was the class’s Top Gun Award recipient. Seiler is also working part time with the Mountaineer Medics program in fall 2024. Pictured with Seiler, from left to right, are App State Police Master Police Officer Cashae Cook; App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell; App State Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management, Jason Marshburn; App State Fire Marshal and Chief of EMS, Frank Sherman; and App State Continuity and Resiliency Coordinator and Assistant Chief of EMS Stephen Ayscue. Photo by Troy Tuttle
About the App State Police Department
Appalachian State University’s official policing agency — the App State Police Department — supports the university’s academic mission by working in partnership with the campus community to prevent crime, solve problems and improve the quality of life on campus. The department’s philosophy is one of proactive community engagement, collaboration and customer service, holding the safety and health of App State’s community members as its top priorities. State-certified police officers, security officers and civilian employees compose the department, and this team of professionals helps to create and maintain an inclusive sense of belonging for all members of the App State Community — students, faculty, staff and visitors. Additionally, through its efforts, the department aims to be a leader in innovative public safety ideas and strategies. Learn more at https://police.appstate.edu.
About the Appalachian Police Officer Development Program
The two-year Appalachian Police Officer Development Program (APDP) at Appalachian State University — the second of its kind in the nation and the only such program in North Carolina — equips students with the knowledge, skills and training to become certified law enforcement officers in North Carolina, while simultaneously earning their undergraduate or graduate degrees. Students become cadets in their first year of the program and have the opportunity to complete the Appalachian State University Police Academy during their second year to become sworn North Carolina police officers. The program is open to all full-time students, regardless of major, and students receive an hourly wage for the part-time work and training they complete with the Appalachian Police Department (APD). Learn more at https://police.appstate.edu/apdp.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell, right in foreground, presents Appalachian Police Academy graduate and Grizzly Award recipient Eleanor Schoel, left in foreground, with a special memento — a traffic cone — during the academy’s seventh annual graduation ceremony, held Aug. 24. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State senior Logan Seiler, a graduate of App State’s Appalachian Police Academy, center, was the class’s Top Gun Award recipient. Seiler is also working part time with the Mountaineer Medics program in fall 2024. Pictured with Seiler, from left to right, are App State Police Master Police Officer Cashae Cook; App State Police Capt. K.C. Mitchell; App State Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management, Jason Marshburn; App State Fire Marshal and Chief of EMS, Frank Sherman; and App State Continuity and Resiliency Coordinator and Assistant Chief of EMS Stephen Ayscue. Photo by Troy Tuttle
![App State to offer AI concentration in master’s programs [faculty featured]](/_images/_posts/2025/04/ai-concentration-600x400.jpg)
