Eight high school graduates and one police officer have been awarded the Edward J. Kiernan Scholarship by the International Union of Police Associations. Every year, the I.U.P.A. selects recipients with career goals in any of a variety of professions, with a focus on law enforcement, for an award to help fund their college career. This year’s awards have more than doubled due to the number of qualified applicants.
This year’s recipients are:
∙ Ethan Charles Wagner of Rossford, OH intends to become a police officer
∙ Michael Vincent Agati of Binghamton, NY seeks to become a state trooper
∙ Breonna Marie Perotta of New Smyrna Beach, FL wants to serve as a police investigator
∙ Tyler Leonard of Bourg, LA will study Engineering
∙ Sarah Coleman of Cooper City, FL is aiming for a career in Criminal Law
∙ Olivia LeRoux of Swanton, OH aspires to become a prosecuting attorney
∙ Taylor Pavese of Wodbourne, NY intends to become a professor teaching about law enforcement
∙ Emma Phelan of Ardsley, NY will study law
∙ Officer Stephen Lockard with the Terre Haute, IN police department will study Business Administration to forward his career in law enforcement management
The Edward J. Kiernan scholarship was established in 1999 by Sam A. Cabral, I.U.P.A.’s current President. The scholarship honors Edward J. Kiernan, a New York City police officer and former I.U.P.A. President in recognition of Eddie’s long commitment to the improvement of law enforcement officers’ and their families’ lives. In order to qualify for a Kiernan scholarship, an applicant’s parent or guardian must be a member of an affiliate of the I.U.P.A. The applicant must also be accepted at an accredited university or college in a course of study in law enforcement, labor relations or a related field. He or she must submit a transcript as well as their SAT scores and a letter of recommendation by a teacher or counselor from the applicant’s school.
Originally chartered in 1979, the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO is the only chartered labor union that exclusively represents law enforcement personnel. The more than 100,000 law enforcement personnel (one out of every four eligible) represented by the I.U.P.A. are all full time employees of law enforcement agencies ranging from line officers up to first line supervisors as well as civilian employees. The I.U.P.A.’s mission is to protect and advance officers’ wages, benefits and work conditions. Membership includes officers from agencies throughout the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. More information is available at www.iupa.org.
