WESSINGTON SPRINGS Emma Niles, a student in Wessington Springs Cyber High School, is among 21 high school students to have completed The South Dakota Youth Trooper Academy which was held in Pierre June 23-27. The school is a cooperative effort between the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the American Legion of South Dakota.
The Youth Trooper Academy is an intensive, one-week, residential learning experience for young adults who are entering their senior year of high school or have just graduated high school in 2025. The program is designed to expose young adults to the demands of Highway Patrol Recruit training and to develop better relationships between the youth of our state and the Highway Patrol.
Veteran South Dakota Highway Patrol Troopers serve as mentors and chaperones during the week. Troopers and members from other law enforcement agencies throughout the state of South Dakota provide classroom and hands-on training in topics such as firearms safety, defensive driving, crash investigation, traffic stops, leadership, defensive tactics, and criminal law. Youth Trooper Academy Recruits also get to experience demonstrations from the Highway Patrols special operations section such as aircraft operation, SWAT, and Police Service Dogs.
Every year, an Outstanding Graduate is chosen to receive a $750 scholarship from the South Dakota American Legion and this year that honor went to Emma Niles from Wessington Springs.
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