Preparing eager students for law enforcement is the mission of the program.

"You have to want to serve," said Bill Hale, program director of the Mercyhurst Municipal Police Academy. "You have to have that personality."

A total of 14 students from class 124 answered the call to law enforcement, graduating basic training from the academy. A handful already have jobs lined up in the near future.

Family and friends were proud to see their loved ones receiving this achievement, but no one was smiling more than graduate Hamid Mobin.

"I believe this is not a job," Mobin said. "This is a profession."

Years ago, Mobin came to the United States as a refugee from Iran. It took him multiple attempts to get accepted and graduate from the academy.

"English is my fourth language, and that was a little [bit of a] hard test for me," Mobin said.

But not only did he win the distinguished Chief Frank L. Baranyai Award, but he also made a life-altering decision.

He proposed to his girlfriend, and now fiancé, Amanda Black.

She said yes.

"Shock, just shock," Black said. "There's no words; how hard he's worked, how much effort he's put into doing this."