It was graduation day at Mercyhurst North East for 35 police academy cadets.
The young men and women completed 21 weeks of intensive academic and physical training. They earned their Act 120 certification, required for many jobs in law enforcement.
The students had to endure long hours in the classroom studying police tactics and procedures, plus strenuous physical training ranging from running to weight lifting.
Cadet Francine Gibson said, "It is a challenge. You wake up early, work out, then sit in class for 8 hours. Some afternoons we were out there for 4 hours of physical training."
The new graduates are now qualified for jobs including police officers, sheriffs deputies and park rangers.