SUCCESS: Thomas James Blount, a Washington native, successfully completed the North Carolina State Highway Patrol program earlier this year. Blount attended Beaufort County Schools and is a 2012 Washington High School graduate, who participated in the JROTC program and was member of the “Raider Team.” He also had a lifelong dream of becoming a law enforcement officer. Through encouragement from family and his pastor, Blount enrolled in the N.C. State Highway Patrol program. (Valerie Blount)