MACON, MO. -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol is offering a class for high school students interested in law enforcement.

This is the second year for the Student Alliance Program.

The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for current junior and senior high school students to learn more about law enforcement, and more specifically about the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

During the two day course in March, students will participate in a wide variety of education and hands-on activities.

“They’ll actually do a mock stop and approach exercise as if they were actually walking up to a law violator,” said Sgt. Brent Bernhardt with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “We will run them through different controlled exercises in the back parking lot. They’ll actually shoot our glock firearms in the range. They’ll also witness a polygraph examination.”

Not only does the Missouri State Highway Patrol use this program to teach teens about law enforcement, they also use it as a recruiting tool.

“What we found out is that many of these students are now seeking degrees in Criminal Justice or looking into the criminal justice system,” said Sgt. Bernhardt. “We do use the Student Alliance Program as a recruiting tool because we know that when you're in high school, those are the years that are very informative. Those are the years that you need to make decisions about what you want to do after college or even after graduating from high school.”

The Student Alliance Program will be conducted at the Troop B Headquarters in Macon, Missouri on two consecutive Saturdays from 9:30am to 4:00pm, beginning on March 17, 2012.

The program is free and students are responsible for finding their own transportation and for their lunch.

The application deadline to be eligible to participate is February 17, 2012.

Students can pick up an application from their guidance counselor or at the Troop B headquarters located at 308 Pine Crest Drive Macon, Missouri; or by calling Sgt. Bernhardt at (660) 385-2132.