NCPBA Scholarship Recipient Trey Hinson

Nov 25, 2024

By Katharine Jefcoats

Whatever Piedmont High School graduate Trey Hinson tackles, he conquers.

Next up, college and a law enforcement career in the footsteps of his father, NCPBA member Jason Hinson. Through his father’s membership, Trey earned scholarships from the North Carolina PBA Division and the Police Benevolent Foundation’s award.

He started Appalachian State University in Fall 2024.

Trey Hinson shows off his Appalachian State wrestling team shirt. He is pursuing a degree in criminal justice.

“With my father also in law enforcement, I wanted to follow him towards a similar pathway,” Trey said. “For this reason, I want to pursue a degree in criminal justice.”

Special Agent Jason Hinson has been in law enforcement for 25 years -- 23 of those years with North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement. He graduated college with a criminal justice degree and through his college years, he had positive encounters with several agents with NCALE. During his career, he’s been able to make similar impacts on others.

“With these experiences, I made it a goal to become an ALE special agent,” said Jason. “I enjoy knowing I get to help people and could possibly be a positive role model to anyone I have contact with. Because the duties of an ALE special agent are so diverse, I have been able to have numerous memorable events happen over my career, and it is hard to narrow down to one event. However, one that does stand out was working the 2012 DNC in Charlotte and being able to give support to other LEOs in an undercover capacity to keep them safe, along with those that attended inside and outside of the convention.”

That impact spilled over onto his son.

“My father being in ALE has been very influential and inspiring in my life,” said Trey. “There are so many moments that you can think back on and be proud of being the son of someone in law enforcement, whether it be a story he told me or someone we see at a sports game that he talks to that he knows because of his work.”

In fact, Trey was able to make alcohol and tobacco buys as an undercover minor for about a year, working with NCALE due to his father’s position. That involvement, coupled with his father’s experiences, influenced Trey’s career leanings.

“The end goal is hopefully SBI,” said Trey, referring to North Carolina’s State Bureau of Investigation. “I intend to work through college in a program offered by App State that would allow me to graduate, having already taken BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) and a year of law enforcement experience. Put this together with my experience working with ALE as a minor, being an Eagle Scout, and my wrestling state championship, I hope to work for SBI in the future and maybe bigger (agencies) if I ever have the chance.”

It stands to reason that Jason Hinson is one proud father.

“Trey, in my opinion, is very successful,” he said. “During his time in high school, he achieved many things. Trey spent many years in the Boys Scouts of America to which he earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout. He was also nominated for Scouting’s Honor Society which is the Order of the Arrow. During his time in the Order of the Arrow, he was selected for Vigil Honor, which is only given to a select number of members within the OA Lodge. He was also selected as the Lodge Chief. A Lodge Chief is a youth leader who is responsible for leading approximately 500 other youth and adults within the Lodge.”

While at Piedmont, Trey wrestled, earning a handful of accolades and honors. He was awarded All Conference Wrestler in all four years of wrestling. Trey was awarded the 2022-2023 National Wrestling Coaches Association and The United States Marine Corp Character and Leadership All-American Award.

He was also awarded the 2023-2024 National Wresting Coaches Association and The United States Marine Corps High School Scholar All-American Award. During Trey’s senior year of wrestling, he would become the 2023-2024 3A 126-pound Wrestling State Champion. He was also awarded Piedmont High School’s Male Athlete of the Year and the town of Unionville Male Athlete of the Year.

Trey was also a member of the National Honor Society, and he worked as a lifeguard at Monroe Aquatic Center.

Among his many activities and interests, Trey also enjoys rock climbing, once summitting a 13,000-foot mountain.

Hinson exploring the outdoors

For now, Trey is focused on college and his planned career. He said he is thankful for the scholarships.

“PBF scholarships mean the world to me,” he said. “Every dollar given helps pay toward my degree so rather than focusing on the money, I can focus on how to better my myself for a future job.”

It is a dangerous job, but he knows that going into it. Trey said there were times in his childhood when he was aware his dad might not return home from work.

“There is always an underlying fear with such a job,” said Trey. “There have been many mornings that, as he pulls out of the driveway, I wonder will I ever see him again. Not much helps soothe that fear but trust that, by time for dinner, I’ll see him again and everything will be OK.”