Law Enforcement Scholarship Winners

3rd Quarter, 2008 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our latest Law Enforcement Scholarship is Steven Crudup Steven Crudup is currently a recruit at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy in Havana, FL, completing his certification to be a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) in the State of Florida in late June 2009. Originally from Nashville, TN, he grew up in Tampa, FL, and eventually made his way to The Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, where he received his Associate of Arts (92), as well as Bachelors in Social Work (93) and Masters in Higher Education Administration (95). After almost 14 years of working in college administration, specifically in University Housing/Residence Life at 4 colleges and universities in New York, South Carolina and Florida, he chose to pursue his certification as a LEO to hopefully make a difference in the relationship between colleges & universities and law enforcement personnel.
Read an excerpt from Steven's winning essay here.
2nd Quarter, 2008 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our latest Law Enforcement Scholarship is Brad Fitzpatrick My job as a helicopter rescue swimmer has been very rewarding. My most memorable experience occurred when I was deployed to New Orleans in order to assist with rescue efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I was able to successfully rescue a number of individuals and was eventually awarded the Coast Guard Air Medal for my efforts. Helping people that are in need has been the best job anyone could ever wish for! After being part of such a rescue effort, I realized that it was time to move forward with another goal in my life, to continue my education. I returned to school in 2006 and earned my associate's degree in criminal justice. While earning my associate's degree, I was able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average. I am currently taking hiatus from school so that I can perform my job duties in the event of another catastrophic hurricane. I will be returning to school in order to earn a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice. On a personal note, I have been married for a year and a half. I currently live in Coral Springs, Florida with my wife and our two dogs.
Read an excerpt from Brad's winning essay here.
4th Quarter, 2007 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our latest Law Enforcement Scholarship is Jamie Barton I’m a twenty-five year old police officer with Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. pursuing a degree in International Security Studies at Georgetown. I’m originally from San Jose, CA and attended college in Indiana before moving to DC this past summer.
Read an excerpt from Jamie's winning essay here.
3rd Quarter, 2007 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our 3rd Quarter, 2007, Law Enforcement Scholarship is Amanda Tovar I am a twenty-one-year-old Senior at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago pursuing a bachelors degree in Justice Studies. I am also currently attending Wilbur Wright Community College where I am going to receive my certificate in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling. I am in dual schools and at times it could get stressful.
Read an excerpt from Amanda's winning essay here.
2nd Quarter, 2007 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our latest Law Enforcement Scholarship is Jason Pohl. I am a junior at the University of Louisville majoring in Justice Administration. I currently work as a Police Cadet with my University’s Police Department, a position I love.
Read an excerpt from Jason's winning essay here.
1st Quarter, 2007 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our 1st Quarter, 2007, Law Enforcement Scholarship is Darci Mix . I am now employed as a Criminal Investigator at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, where I am assigned to the Domestic Violence and Stalking Unit. This positiion enables me to work closely with victims and witnesses of violent crimes; and, in turn be both a liason and coach for the judicial process as well as the right hand of the prosecutors. This position also afford me the stability of a normal work day, which being a shift work patrol officer could not. The steady schedule allows me to attend law school four nights a week. My intention is to utilize my professional experience and education to eventually become a prosecutor.
Read an excerpt from Darci's winning essay here.
4th Quarter, 2006 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our latest Law Enforcement Scholarship is Shea Donato. "I was recently accepted into the Criminal Justice graduate program at the John Jay College at the City University of New York. It is a two year program, and I will have to move out to New York City from Helena, Montana before I begin the fall 2007 semester. Currently, I am serving in the AmeriCorps VISTA(Volunteers in Service to America) program."
Read an excerpt from Shea's winning essay here.
3rd Quarter, 2006 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our 3rd Quarter, 2006, Law Enforcement Scholarship is Kim Meacham. She was born and raised in Reno, Nevada and graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology in December 2006 with a minor in Criminal Justice. The spring semester of 2007 is her one semester off before she begins again. She would like to start a Master’s in Criminal Justice and hopes to end her studies with a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology.
"Currently I work with juveniles with both criminal backgrounds and psychological disorders, most of which are in the foster care system. With any luck, my continuing education and continuing experience will deliver me to my dream of working with adult offenders. As we all know; however, adult offenders start out with juvenile problems, so it is quite beneficial to continue to learn and experience the juvenile system before I head full force into the adult arena." Read an excerpt from Kim's winning essay here.
2nd Quarter, 2006 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our 2nd Quarter, 2006, Law Enforcement Scholarship is Mollie Buzzard. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Currently, she is pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Iowa College of Law. Mollie applied, and was accepted, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Honors Intern Program.
Mollie grew up in a family that preached the importance of leaving something better than you found it. They also instilled in her the value of a strong work ethic, as well as the importance of cooperation and loyalty. "Hailing from a family that has always willingly answered the call of duty, I am inspired to do my part in protecting the country, and people, who have provided me with everything. I have always possessed a strong desire to serve but struggled with finding my niche until my junior year of undergraduate study." That is when Mollie applied, and was accepted, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Honors Intern Program. "Serving as an intern in our nation's capitol was an incredible experience. Working alongside such dedicated, talented individuals encouraged me to set goals and work diligently to achieve those goals." Read an excerpt from Mollie's winning essay here.
1st Quarter, 2006 StraightForward Media is proud to announce that the winner of our 1st Quarter, 2006, Law Enforcement Scholarship is Jeanine Rodriguez.
"After enduring more pain and disillusionment than I ever conceived possible, I came to the conclusion that in order to elicit change I needed to become part of the system that I had so completely trusted in and that had so harshly betrayed me. How do you convince a 17-year old whose mother has been wrongly accused, sentenced to years in prison and ripped from her side, that God is merciful and loving; that good does prevail and that the justice system is honest? Quite simply, you do not. Instead, you trust that the foundation that supported her until that experience is strong enough to keep her standing. My base was solid although I was often quite the contrary." Read an excerpt from Jeanine's winning essay here.

4th Quarter, 2005

She is a Parliamentarian for the Texas State University Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society. She currently works with at-risk youth and will be interning with a juvenile probation department this summer. "Upon graduation, I hope to become a juvenile probation officer in the greater Austin, TX area."

Read an excerpt from Amanda's winning essay here.

3rd Quarter, 2005

"I decided to make Law Enforcement my life when I was about eight years old. I remember always playing the Sheriff when we would play "cops and robbers". As I grew up I decided to serve my country by joining the Army in 1985. While in the Army I served in a combat enviroment during the Panama Invasion in 1989. I also got married and was blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Later I would have another son. Upon my Honorable Discharge from the Army I decided to move to Georgia and begin my Law Enforcement career."

Read an excerpt from Richard's winning essay here.

2nd Quarter, 2005

Jennifer was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, until the age of 10 when her parents relocated to Florida.

"My sophomore year of high school was when things changed. My close friend, Riley, who was in a gang was shot and almost killed in her home. At first I didn't believe it but then later realized it was true. At that moment I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I was tired of people around me being hurt by guns, drugs and violence. I was driven to make a change, and I was ready to help make the world a better place. Now here I am 19 years later; a college student pursuing a degree in Criminology. My goal is to obtain my doctorate and work with juvenile delinquents. I want to assure them that violence isn't the answer and isn't the only option."

Read an excerpt from Jennifer's winning essay here.

Will you be the next winner? You can't win unless you apply. You can apply online now -- you might be our next winner!