American Legion Junior Law Cadet Honorees Chosen

News Release

(Lincoln) July 24, 2025 – The Nebraska American Legion’s 56th annual Junior Law Cadet Program was held June 23 – 26, 2025, at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center
in Grand Island.

18 boys and 21 girls who just finished their junior year of high school participated in this program. The students were selected from each of the 14 American Legion Districts in Nebraska.

Participants learned about law enforcement responsibilities and had training from representatives of various city, county, state, and federal agencies. They participated in daily calisthenics, classroom sessions, self-defense, firearms, law enforcement driving, internet crime, and radar use. Evening classes were devoted to accident and crime investigation, fingerprinting and polygraph techniques, and other special topics.

Five young men and women were selected from the participants for performing above and beyond during the week. Outstanding Boy Cadet – Jacob Zalesky of Ashland; Outstanding Girl Cadet – Madison Reilly of Albion; Outstanding Boys Driving Ability – Caden Rainforth of Milford; Outstanding Girls Driving Ability – Adison Schuessler of Omaha; Outstanding Boys Marksmanship – Grant Barnes of Gretna; Outstanding Girls Marksmanship – no girl cadet due to rain at the range that day.

The American Legion is dedicated to the motto of “Veterans Strengthening America.” Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to servicemembers and veterans. Legionnaires in more than 12,500 posts across the nation and regions overseas serve their communities with a devotion to mutual helpfulness.