BPD, Stetson Club award scholarship

As a way to encourage young people to consider a career in law enforcement, members of the Brockport Police Department, the department union the Stetson Club and Chief Daniel Varrenti pooled resources and offered the first ever scholarship this year to a graduating senior at BHS.

Officer Paul Wheat came up with the idea and approached his fellow officers, the chief and the Stetson Club and they "supported it 100%," Sergeant Mark Cuzzupoli said.

The officers worked with Michael Myers, the dean of students at the school, to solicit applications which were forwarded to a selection committee made up of Varrenti, Wheat, Cuzzupoli, Officer Steve Misiti and the Stetson Club President Chris Curley.

"We received about 20 essays and Nathan Parrino's application rose to the top," Cuzzupoli said. "He is looking to pursue a career in law enforcement, has completed an internship with the Rochester Police Department and had excellent presentation on his application."

The selection criteria for the scholarship focused on GPA and placed emphasis on extra curricular activities and community service.

Wheat said he and several of his fellow officers are from the Brockport area and graduated from Brockport High School as well. "There just weren't any scholarships available for students looking to go into law enforcement and if we could offer one and encourage kids from this area to maybe start a career here, we wanted to help," Wheat said. "We are definitely looking to do this every year now."

July 9, 2006