2008 Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation College Scholarship Program

The Roger L. Foster Scholarship is now called the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation College Scholarship Program. Click here for application criteria or to obtain application information.

The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation acknowledges the support police officers give their communities. In recognition of this, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation has established the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation College Scholarship Program, a needs-based scholarship for dependent children of active police officers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The scholarship is not available to dependent children of sheriff's deputies, federal officers, or civilian personnel working in police agencies.

Recipients of the 2008 Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation College Scholarship Program:

Ms. Melissa I. Alvarez; Tidewater Community College

Sponsor: Police Officer Specialist Edwin Alvarez, Chesapeake Police Department

Ms. Ashley S. Cason; Campbell University

Sponsor: Master Police Officer James C. Cason, Virginia Beach Police Department

Ms. Sara C. Critz; James Madison University

Sponsor: Senior Police Officer Blake P. Critz, Salem Police Department

Ms. Kristina L. Seal; West Virginia University

Sponsor: Sergeant Robert A. L. Seal, Front Royal Police Department

Ms. Lauren D. Thomas; Liberty University

Sponsor: Special Agent Garry V. Thomas, Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Congratulations to all five recipients!

Applications for the 2009 scholarship program will be available online in February 2009. If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Diaz or Lex Eckenrode at (804) 285-8227 or info@vapolicefoundation.org.

2008 Awards for Valor, Lifesaving, and Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement

Each year, the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police honor Virginia law-enforcement officers and individuals with our highest awards. This year, the recipients were presented the awards during the VACP annual conference at the Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia, on August 19, 2008.

The recipients of the 2008 VACP/VPCF Awards are listed below. Eight officers received the Award for Valor, and 23 officers received the 2008 Lifesaving Award.

Valor Award

The Valor Award recognizes a law-enforcement officer who, in the line of duty, performs an act of extraordinary heroism at imminent personal risk, while engaged with an adversary. The 2008 Awards for Valor were presented to:

Police Officer Joshua Wright of the Bluefield Police Department

Police Officer Specialist Raymond Kerr of the Chesapeake Police Department
Police Officer Specialist Norwood "Trea" King, with special recognition to K-9 "Axel," of the Chesapeake Police Department
Lieutenant Kevin J. Testerman of the Chilhowie Police Department
Police Officer Shaun P. Chuyka and Police Officer Spencer D. Lewis of the Roanoke County Police Department
Deouty Brad M, Campbell and Deputy Richard B. Garland of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office

Lifesaving Award

The Lifesaving Award recognizes an officer’s actions that put the officer in harm’s way while attempting to save the life of another individual. The awards were announced during the VACP/VPCF Annual Conference on August 19 at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. The awards were given to the recipients’ agency administrators to be presented in ceremonies at the officers’ agencies. The Recipients of the 2008 Lifesaving Award are:

Officers Christopher Ashcroft, Thomas Ground, Steven Pagach, Patrick Gittlesohn, Gregory Holden, Thomas Meehan, Michael Nugent, John Saitta, Nick Lion, and Animial Control Officer Pete Fitzgerald, all of the Alexandria Police Department
Officer Ernest "Jeff" Jefferies of the Chesapeake Police Department
Officers Nathan Harder and Rodney Pretko of the Chesterfield County Police Department
Edward J. Leabough, Sr., of the Henrico County Division of Police
Officers Terrence Dunbar, Terral L. Hollars, Scott A. Mounger, and Sergeant Xavier O. Falero of the Newport News Police Department
Officers Christopher C. Bradford, Christopher A. Drew, and Kenneth Hulsey all of the Prince William County Police Department
Officers Todd Jones and Ruddy Zhao, Officer Russell Wiegratz (posthumously), and Sergeants Ronnie Armistead, Warren Andorfer, Chris Gleason, Jason Hudson, and Wayne Skinner, all of the Richmond Police Department
Master Police Officers Mark A. Roulley and Nathan J. Witczak, and Officer Bryon L. Nodley of the Virginia Beach Police Department
Officer David S. Chaulkin of the Virginia Capitol Police

For a copy of these officers’ amazing stories, logon to the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police website at www.vachiefs.org, or contact the VACP at (804) 285-8227.

2008 Philip Morris USA Scholarship Winners Announced

Thanks to the generosity of Philip Morris USA, two scholarships for the Institute for Leadership in Changing Times (ILCT) are made available to individuals from police agencies of cities, towns and counties that qualify for attendance at ILCT.

The 2008 recipients are:

Sergeant Shirl Mammarella,

Alexandria Police Department

Sergeant Shirl Mammarella of the Alexandria Police Department is attending ILCT Session I that began June 15 and concludes on September 18, 2008.

Captain Jacob H. Siddons

Tappahannock Police Department

Captain Jacob H. Siddons of the Tappahannock Police Department was selected is attending ILCT Session II, which began July 13 and ends on September 25, 2008.

For more information on this scholarship program, or to request an application, please contact the foundation at (804) 285-8227.

The Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs or activities, including education policies, admissions policies, scholarships, and other programs. The following position has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the Foundation's non-discrimination policies:

Chief Executive Officer

Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation

1606 Santa Rosa Rd., Ste. 134

Richmond, Virginia 23288

(804) 285-8227

For further information on federal non-discrimination regulations, contact the Office for Civil Rights at ocr.de@ed.gov or call (800) 421-3481.