Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.

COPS

Contact:  Terrie Merritt
Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS)
P.O. Box 3199 ** South Highway 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
Phone  (573) 346-4911 ** Fax (573) 346-1414
Electronic mail:   cops@nationalcops.org
Visit our Web Site:  www.nationalcops.org

• For Immediate Release

Press Release
COPS’ Educational Assistance Continues to Increase

Camdenton, MO, December 6, 2004 - COPS received 28 applications for scholarships for the Winter/Spring 2004-05 Semester. Scholarship awards were approved for twenty-one surviving children and seven surviving spouses for a total of $37,123. 

This fiscal year, COPS has sent grants totaling $76,290 to assist 41 survivors in 28 states and Puerto Rico as they pursued their under-graduate educational goals. Since COPS began the scholarship program in December 1994, a total of $583,400 has been awarded to 187 survivors in 41 states and Puerto Rico.

        In 2002 and 2003, the Aronson Family Foundation gave a total of $40,000 to the COPS Scholarship Program. Each semester, one survivor is awarded the Aronson Family Foundation Scholarship. For the Winter/Spring 04-05 Semester, this scholarship was awarded to Becky Hoffa. Becky is a junior at the University of Texas at Arlington where she is majoring in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Becky’s father, Terry Lewis, was killed in 1992 while serving with the Arlington (TX) Police Department. Becky was 14 at the time of his death.

        Other scholarship recipients include:

        Ali Agy-Bechtel is pursuing an AA degree in criminal justice at Cy-Fair College in Cypress, TX. Ali’s father, William Agy, was killed in 1995 while serving with the Liberty County (TX) Sheriff’s Office.

        Erika Barnhart plans to graduate in May from Baptist Bible College in Clark’s Summit, PA, with a degree in elementary education. Younger brother Evan Barnhart is in his first year at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN, where he is majoring in secondary education. Evan is on the college soccer team and volunteers at his church. Erika and Evan are the children of Lewiston (ME) Police Officer David R. Payne, killed in 1988.

        Florida State University in Tallahassee is where Megan Bolhouse is pursuing a degree in elementary education. Megan’s dad, Mark Alan Bolhouse, was killed in 1988 while serving with the Fort Myers (FL) Police Department

        The daughter of Dayton (OH) Police Officer Mary Beall, Vanessa, is in her junior year at Eastern Kentucky University where she is majoring in forensic science. Officer Beall was killed in 2002.

        Brandi Brown-Harris has almost completed all requirements for an AA degree in psychology at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. Her father, Elmer Harris, was killed in 1986 while serving with the St. Clair County (IL) Sheriff’s Office.

        Patrick Deachilla is a freshman at the University of Maryland at College Park where is he majoring in kinesiology. Patrick now lives in Pennsylvania, but his father, William J. Martin, was killed in 1989 while serving with the Baltimore (MD) Police Department.

        Plymouth State University in New Hampshire is where Melanie Griffiths is pursuing a degree in medieval and renaissance studies. She is the daughter of Detective Sherman Griffiths who was killed in 1988 while serving with the Boston (MA) Police Department.

        Camille Holcomb is attending the University of Tennessee at Martin working toward a degree in elementary education. Camille’s dad, Samuel F. Holcomb, Jr., was serving with the Tennessee Highway Patrol when he was killed in 1988.

        Andrea Huffman is attending Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, AL. She is enrolled in the radiologic technology program with plans to become a radiographer. Andrea was pregnant with their son when her husband, John Huffman, was killed in 1992 while serving with the Birmingham (AL) Police Department.

        Alizabeth Logsdon is completing her freshman year at Pensacola Christian College in Florida where she is double-majoring in history and speech communication. Alizabeth is the daughter of Chris Logsdon who was a member of the Wyoming Highway Patrol when he was killed in 1998.

        Josiah Mahar was killed in 1988 while serving with the US Border Patrol. His daughter, Samantha, is a junior at Marlboro College in Vermont where she is pursuing her love of photography.

        Christine Miller is attending Kansas State University in Manhattan where she is a section leader in the marching band. Christine is the daughter of Kansas City (MO) Police Officer Philip Miller, killed in 1983.

        Misty Nicholson is one year away from her degree in political science at Clemson University in South Carolina. Misty is the surviving spouse of Eric Nicholson, killed in 2000 while serving with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

        Rosimar Rivera-Ortega moved to Tennessee from Puerto Rico. Her husband, Yamil Baez-Santiago, was killed in 2002 while serving with the Clarksville (TN) Police Department. Rosimar is enrolled in the aesthetician course at Queen City College.

        Bennetta Sanders is working full time while taking classes at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, NC. Benetta is working toward a degree in human resource management. Benetta is the surviving spouse of Prince George’s County (MD) Police Officer Ryan Johnson, killed in 1992.

        Constance Searles-Myers is returning to school at the University of Phoenix to complete a degree in business management. Constance was eleven years old when her father, Stuart Searles, was killed in 1984 while serving with the Sauk County (WI) Sheriff’s Office.

        Adam Trout is student teaching to complete requirements for his degree in elementary education. He will graduate in May from Middle Tennessee State University. Adam is the stepson of Christiansburg (VA) Police Officer Terry Griffith, killed in 1994.

        Mandy Sexson will receive her degree in dental hygiene from Des Moines Area Community College in May. Mandy’s sister, Brooke Wagner, is enrolled in the pre-med course at Creighton University in Omaha. Mandy and Brooke are the daughters of Nebraska State Trooper Mark Wagner, killed in 1999.

        Whitney Winn is completing her third year at the College of William and Mary, but she is spending this semester in Italy where she is part of the study-abroad program. Whitney is the daughter of Alan Winn, killed in 1991 while serving with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

        Karen Woodrell,the spouse of Pawnee County (OK) Sheriff Dwight Woodrell, Jr., killed in 2001, is working toward a degree in accounting at Oklahoma State University.

        Siblings Surey and Emmanuel Gomez were approved for COPS scholarships. They are the children of Pascual Gomez-Lopez, killed in 1996 while serving with the Court Administration in Puerto Rico. Surey is in her fourth year at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras where she is working to complete a degree in Spanish senior education. Emmanuel is attending the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina where is working toward a degree in industrial equipment maintenance.

        Anna Maria Hayes is a business major at Greensboro College in North Carolina. She is the surviving spouse of Cheraw (NC) Police Officer Gilbert Halma, killed in 1998.

        Marimar Hernandez is working toward an accounting degree at Keiser College in Orlando, FL. She is the daughter of Luis Hernandez Vega, killed in 1995 while serving with the Puerto Rico Police Department.

        Brown College in Mendota Heights, MN, is where Megan O’Brien is working toward a degree in criminal justice. Megan’s dad, John J. O’Brien, was killed in 1981 while serving with the St. Paul (MN) Police Department.

        COPS Scholarships are awarded three times annually. For more information about Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., or to help support COPS’ Scholarship Program, contact COPS at (573) 346-4911, or e-mail cops@nationalcops.org.  Visit the COPS website at www.nationalcops.org.

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