Phoenix student receives inaugural “Shane Figueroa” Memorial Scholarship
May 30, 2012
On May 14th, Elija Jenkins - a senior at South Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona - received the first Shane Figueroa Memorial Scholarship, honoring the late police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2008.
Figueroa had been with the Phoenix Police Department for more than two years when he was hit by a drunk driver en route to a domestic-violence call. His legacy now annually helps one student attend college.
The two-year scholarship entirely covers tuition to South Mountain Community College and is open to students who qualify academically and have a history of community service as well as volunteering with the police department. Its creation was made possible through the combined efforts of the South Mountain Precinct where Figueroa worked, South Mountain High School, the chamber of commerce and the community college.
Jenkins plans to take two years going to school close to home before matriculating to a larger university. Scholarships for college students can often allow freshmen and sophomores to get a foothold in higher education before moving out of state or to bigger colleges. Figueroa's Memorial Scholarship will undoubtedly be a considerable asset to South Mountain High School students, especially those interested in public service.
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