WILKES-BARRE — Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), welcomed 47 new troopers this week during a graduation ceremony at LCBC Manheim.
The 176th Cadet Class completed approximately 27 weeks of rigorous training at the PSP Academy to earn the rank of trooper.
“For nearly six months, this dedicated group of women and men demonstrated remarkable strength, leadership, courage, discipline, resilience, and commitment to complete the rigors of the Academy and earn the rank of trooper,” said Lieutenant Colonel Bivens. “I am beyond proud to welcome these brave individuals to our PSP family, and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to successfully serve, protect, and uphold the law across the Commonwealth.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis continue to aid PSP’s mission to protect the safety of Pennsylvania communities by securing $16.2 million in the 2026-27 state budget to support four additional cadet classes, approximately 380 troopers.
Since taking office, the Shapiro-Davis administration has secured funding for 16 cadet classes to train over 1,600 new PSP Troopers. To date, 673 cadets have graduated and joined the ranks of PSP under Shapiro’s tenure as governor.
The 176th Cadet Class is the sixth class to complete the PSP Academy without a college credit requirement for the position of trooper. The Shapiro-Davis administration eliminated the college requirement for applicants in August 2023. As a result, the PSP saw a 69% increase in applicants in 2025 compared to 2022, when the college credit requirement was still in place.
During the ceremony, five cadets received special awards and recognition:
• Levi J. Wallace: American Legion Award for all-around academic, physical, ethical, and moral qualifications; Daniel F. Dunn High Scholastic Award for the highest level of academic achievement in the class.
• Gunnar H. Frankenfield: Gesford High Pistol Award for the highest score on the department’s pistol qualification course.
• Tyler Elsdon: Colonel Ronald M. Sharpe Leadership Award for exemplifying the qualities of leadership.
• Brandon W. Knapp: John K. Schafer Memorial Award for the highest combined score on a series of physical skills tests.
• Briar W. Kentzel: Colonel Paul J. Chylak Memorial Driver Proficiency Award for the highest proficiency in driver safety training.
PSP’s latest hiring cycle is open until Sept. 30. Those interested in becoming a state trooper can find application requirements, job benefits, and other details at PATrooper.com.
DMVA’s Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy accepting applications for first 2027 class
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (DMVA) Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA) is now accepting applications for its first class of 2027, which begins in January.
There is no tuition cost to attend and meals, housing, uniforms and school supplies are provided at no charge.
A cornerstone of DMVA’s outreach, KSCA’s mission of providing teens in jeopardy of not graduating on time or dropping out of school with a second chance at obtaining their basic education is centered around the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program’s eight core components: leadership; self-discipline; job skills; health and hygiene; values of community service and civic duty; physical fitness; responsibility to build a better life.
To meet growing demand for the program, the 2026-27 budget signed by Shapiro increased funding for KSCA by $80,000.
The December 2025 graduating class was the largest KSCA class to-date with 75 graduates. Enrollment is expected to grow to more than 100 cadets in the coming years.
With KSCA’s online eligibility checker at pa.gov/ksca, applicants can quickly confirm their eligibility before completing the full application. Applicants can also request a mailed form by emailing ra-mvpachallenge@pa.gov, or calling 717-861-7767 or 717-861-8831.
The opening of the academy at Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG) in Lebanon County in July 2022 formally established the National Guard Bureau’s Youth ChalleNGe Program in Pennsylvania.
The program is open to 16- to 18-year-old Pennsylvania residents who are failing to progress in high school or may not be on a clear path to graduating. Applicants must be willing to be drug-free, free of felony convictions and voluntarily commit to the program.
The program lasts for five and one-half months as a residential phase, followed by 24 months of mentorship by academy staff in their home communities. Graduates work to receive high school credits, credentials or a GED. KSCA is also increasing in the number of graduates who earn their diplomas through Act 158 legislation that allows for alternative pathways to graduation.
The KSCA conducts two classes a year, one starting in mid-July and the other in mid-January. Applications are accepted all year long.
Pa. reaffirms commitment to serving and protecting Pennsylvanians with disabilities
The Shapiro administration this week reaffirmed its commitment to ensure the choices and freedoms of Pennsylvanians with disabilities are protected so they can live, work, and participate fully in their chosen community in the wake of recent federal actions that threaten decades of progress.
In 1999, the United States Supreme Court decided Olmstead v. L.C., a case that questioned how states comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Olmstead decision affirmed that unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is a form of discrimination under the ADA and that people with disabilities should have opportunities to receive services in community settings as an alternative to institutional settings when appropriate, consistent with their needs and choices, and when such services can be reasonably provided.
Right now, approximately 200,000 older adults and people with intellectual and physical disabilities – the highest in Pennsylvania history — receive disability services in their homes and communities.
However, on July 20, the Trump administration announced that the U.S. Department of Justice would no longer rely on longstanding Olmstead guidance when enforcing the ADA.
More former federal employees choosing Pa. to continue public service careers
In March 2025, Shapiro signed Executive Order 2025-01 to fill critical vacancies in Pennsylvania’s workforce by recruiting experienced former federal employees.
This week, the Shapiro administration announced 1,350 individuals with federal work experience have been hired since the order was signed. These roles include approximately 150 clerical positions, 130 corrections officer trainees, 95 caseworkers, 50 highway construction and maintenance workers, 65 nursing positions, as well as numerous specialized roles in information technology, science, law, engineering, and skilled trades.
This pace puts the Shapiro administration on course to hire nearly 2,000 highly qualified and experienced former federal employees to fill critical vacancies across state government by the conclusion of the executive order’s second year.
“Attracting great people to state government remains essential to delivering the strong, responsive services our residents expect and deserve,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “As more former federal workers look for an employer that values their experience, innovation, and dedication to service, the Commonwealth is proud to offer meaningful opportunities to continue their public service.”
The federal government has reduced its workforce by nearly 272,000 employees since January 20, 2025, according to the Office of Personnel Management. From January 2025 to June 2026, the number of workers employed by the federal government in Pennsylvania also fell by 8,900, according to data from the Department of Labor & Industry and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on X @TLBillOBoyle.