SV senior accepted to FBI Pittsburgh Teen Academy
One Seneca Valley senior is getting a peek into the inner workings of the FBI. Gracen Heilman was recently accepted into the 2022 FBI Pittsburgh Teen Academy. As a selected participant, Miss Heilman will gain a better understanding of the FBI and what it takes to keep America safe, highlighting the various positions and career paths that work together to help them in their mission to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 2022 FBI Pittsburgh Teen Academy. The program appealed to me because it offers insight into many different specialties within the FBI,” said Miss Heilman. “I’ve always known that I want to work in law enforcement, and this opportunity will give me a taste of many different career paths that I could take to land a job that I love and that helps others.”
Miss Heilman will be offered insight into a number of topics including the importance of making good choices when using online communication platforms, understanding which federal law violations the FBI investigates, requirements of all FBI applicants and the FBI’s domestic and international roles. Additionally, she’ll also learn about concepts that are designed to enhance student awareness of issues such as cybercrime and cyber bullying as well as have the opportunity for various hands-on experiences involving specialized areas of the FBI, such as their Evidence Response Team.
“Gracen is the perfect fit for this program. Not only is she responsible and reliable, but she’s also shown a consistent dedication to public service. She’s been interested in the FBI Teen Academy for a couple of years now, but since the program can only take high school seniors, she’s had to wait. I’m excited for Gracen to learn about different career opportunities in the FBI and what she should be doing now to best prepare to become an agent of tomorrow,” stated Seneca Valley Senior High School Gifted Support Teacher Dean Walker. “Every student we’ve had do this program in years past raves about it. I can’t wait to hear about Gracen’s experience!”
“I hope to learn as much as possible about what the FBI can offer and how it functions. My ultimate career goal is to work as a criminal behavioral analyst for the FBI,” said Miss Heilman. “It is crucial to understand why people behave the way that they do. Being able to analyze situations is an important skill when it comes to problem-solving. I love psychology, and the thought of helping people using something I am passionate about is exciting.”