Schools
High School Seniors Work With Local Law Enforcement
Four seniors from T.C. Williams intern with the Alexandria Sheriff's Office
For the last three weeks of their high school careers, four seniors from T.C. Williams participated in an internship with the criminal justice sector of Alexandria.
Kelsey Donley, Damba Koroma, Vasiliki Voskidi and Stephen Weidman were selected as part of a “senior experience” program offered by the high school and were chosen because of their interest in the field of criminal justice.
The interns had a behind-the-scenes view of the Sheriff’s Office, the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center and the city courthouse where they learned about security procedure, rehabilitation of inmates and the department’s budget process.
Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Some days we would just drive around with the deputies,” said senior Kelsey Donley, who will be attending Virginia Tech next fall. “Other days we went to the gun range, the police academy, EVOC (where they learn how to drive and operate the vehicles), and we learned defense training.”
Donley said she had no interest in becoming a law enforcement officer, but by the end of the program, she realized that “there are so many other jobs at the Sheriff’s Office other than keeping watch of the jail.” She said, “My favorite part was probably going to the police academy and seeing what it takes to be in law enforcement.”
Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Voskidi said that it's difficult to choose one highlight of the experience because “the staff was so welcoming and treated [her] as part of the family.” She added that the chance to go to the shooting range and sitting through a murder trial topped the list.
Criminal Justice teacher Kris Gulden taught Koroma, Voskidi and Weidman. She said that they “represent the best of T.C. Williams."
This is the third year that the Sheriff’s Office has participated in the high school program.
“It sounds to me like what they experienced in those three weeks went far beyond what we can accomplish in a classroom in 183 days of school,” said Gulden.
Editor's Note: T.C. Williams graduating senior Maddie Christy, who authored this article, is participating in her Senior Experience with Old Town Alexandria Patch and Del Ray Patch.
