PGC: New game wardens added to the state’s ranks

Twenty-seven new game wardens have been assigned to districts in Pennsylvania. Following 45 weeks of intensive training, the 32nd Class of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Ross Leffler School of Conservation graduated on Feb. 13 at the Best Western Premier, The Central Hotel & Conference Center in Harrisburg. Video from the ceremony is available to view on the Game Commission’s YouTube channel.

The 32nd Class shall forever be known as the “Covid Class” and was faced with many unique challenges to overcome. Over the last year, cadets had to adapt and work in ways never imagined before experiencing a pandemic. Members of the 32nd class enrolled on March 29, 2020. Their reporting date coincided with many closures, uncertainty and virus-related mandates across the nation.

The class persevered through the challenges faced, ones that no class before them had ever known. To say they have endured much would be an understatement. Schedules changed, sometimes by the minute, leaving instructors to find alternatives to continue providing needed training.

Graduates were commissioned as officers, and have been assigned to their new districts.

During the ceremony, graduates were recognized for achievements in the areas of academics, marksmanship, physical fitness, driving skills and leadership.

Graduate Travis O’Neill received the class award for academics, with a score of 96.9 percent. Benjamin Johnson was honored with the marksmanship award, achieving the highest combined score in a series of courses firing the handgun, rifle and shotgun.

Shawn Greevy was selected as the fitness award winner for maintaining the highest standard of physical fitness during the training program. Shawn Seeley received the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course driving award. And, Graduate Philip Bietsch was chosen by his classmates to receive the “Torch Award for Leadership.”

Members of the 32nd class with regional ties, their hometowns and their new assignments are: Meagon Aikey of Milton (western Crawford County); Tyler Brundage of Spring Creek (northern Mercer); Alex DiCicco of New Kensington (northern Clarion); Shawn Greevy of Mechanicsburg (southern Westmoreland); Thomas Henry of Grampian (northwestern Clearfield); Heath Hilbert of Fort Littleton (northern McKean); Benjamin Johnson of Scott Township (eastern McKean); Travis O’Neill of Wexford (southeastern Butler); and Shawn Seeley of Lock Haven (northern Centre);

In 1930, Ross Leffler, then president of the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners, proposed the establishment of a training school for game protectors. When the training school opened its doors in 1932, in Brockway, it was the first such conservation officer training school in the world and served as a model for other states.

From 1932 until 1935, the Ross Leffler School of Conservation offered in-service training for game protectors. The school became a permanent facility and enrolled its first class of trainees in 1936, and continued training new classes at this facility until 1986, when the school was moved to the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters.