Police Association Plans to Award $6,000 in Scholarships to Local High Schoolers This Year

The nonprofit Pasadena Police Officers’ Association announced that it will be awarding $6,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors in the Pasadena community this year. The Association plans to award two $2,000 scholarship grants and two $1,000 scholarship grants to eligible students who meet the application criteria.

The Pasadena Police Officers Association Scholarship Awards Program was initiated in 1989 with a $2,000 check donated by movie producer Brian Grazer. The program was created to give back to the community by awarding scholarship funds to graduating seniors who need financial assistance to further their educational goals.

To be eligible for the scholarships, students must have maintained a GPA of 2.75 or better during their junior and senior years, participated in service activities with school or community organizations, and be available to attend the awards presentation in June. Applicants must also submit an application form, official transcript, list of extracurricular activities, community service participation, leadership positions, honors and awards, two letters of recommendation, proof of college acceptance, and an essay for each scholarship they are applying for.

The PPOA offers three different types of scholarships: the PPOA Dependent $2,000 Scholarship for dependents of current or retired PPOA members or former members currently employed as police officers; the PPOA $2,000 Community Scholarship for Pasadena high school students intending to pursue a criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree; and the $1,000 Lloyd Kirby Memorial Scholarships for Pasadena high school students intending to complete a degree in criminal justice or law enforcement, dependents of any current or retired Pasadena Police Officer, or participants in the Pasadena Police Department’s Cadet or Explorer programs. 

Each scholarship requires an essay of 500 words answering a specific question.

Interested students can find more information and the application on the Pasadena Police Officers’ Association website. All materials must be received by May 1, 2023. For any questions, applicants can email officemanager@pasadenapoa.com.