RICHMOND, Ky. — College scholarships totaling $51,500 have been awarded to 25 Kentucky families by the Gerald F. Healy Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation Scholarship endowment.
Four $5,000 scholarships each were awarded to surviving family of Kentucky officers who died in the line of duty. They include children of Kentucky State Police Trooper Johnny Edrington (end of watch, Dec. 20, 1988), Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement Officer Jason Cammack (end of watch, April 23, 2000) and Jessamine County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Walls (end of watch, Nov. 13, 2001). Jennifer Thacker, wife of fallen Alcoholic Beverage Control Investigator Brandon Thacker (end of watch, April 16, 1998), was also awarded a scholarship.
The remaining recipients were awarded $1,500 scholarships.
Healy was a founding member of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, which was established in 1999. The foundation’s original purpose was to build a memorial that would honor all Kentucky officers who have been killed in the line of duty. Once the monument was completed in 2000, the organization expanded its efforts to include a financial endowment program, which helps Kentucky peace officers and their families with educational, medical and emergency relief.
In 2004, the foundation created the scholarship program to help law enforcement officers, dispatchers and their families pay for college. It is restricted to law enforcement officers and dispatch personnel (current, retired or disabled) and their survivors or dependents. The scholarships may be used at any accredited college or university, including two-year and community colleges and may also be used for attendance at recognized or certified vocational or trade schools. Students do not have to major in law enforcement or criminal justice to be eligible for the scholarship.
After his death in 2009, the scholarships were named in honor of Healy’s dedication to the foundation.
“The goal of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation has always been to honor and help the officers of this state,” said KLEMF Scholarship Committee Chairman Drexel Neal. “I cannot think of a better way to honor the fallen heroes of the past and our officers of today than to help educate their survivors, their comrades and their dependents for a better future.”
Applications for the Healy scholarships are due annually in March, and are reviewed by the KLEMF Board of Directors. For details and to obtain an application, visit klemf.org/scholarships.
The 2020 scholarship recipients are:
Carrie Burks, Lexington
Spouse of Lexington Police Detective David Burks
Eastern Kentucky University
Tiffany L. Burton, Stanton
Daughter of Office of the Inspector General Officer Michael Burton (deceased)
Georgetown College
Hayden Cammack, Frankfort
Surviving son of Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement Officer Jason Cammack
University of Kentucky
Taylor Combs, Central City
Daughter of Kentucky State Police Trooper Mark Combs
Madisonville Community College
James Tripp Conway, Crestwood
Son of LaGrange Police Chief William F. Conway (retired)
University of Kentucky
Ethan Frazier, Clay City
Son of Kentucky State Police/Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Capt. Phillip Frazier
Morehead State University
Gabrielle Hagan, Tompkinsville
Tompkinsville Police telecommunicator
American Military University
Lee Mason Hagan, Louisville
Daughter of Louisville Metro Police Officer Christopher Hagan
Asbury University
Bryce Huff, Hebron
Son of Boone County Sheriff’s Major Ben Huff
Hebron University of Kentucky
Aleigha Judd, Berea
Daughter of Kentucky State Police Trooper Bryan Judd
Morehead State University
Emma Judd, Berea
Daughter of Kentucky State Police Trooper Bryan Judd
Eastern Kentucky University
Jordan Kelly, Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville Police Telecommunicator
University of Louisville
Colton Kendall, Cynthiana
Son of Cynthiana Police Sgt. Eric Kendall
University of Kentucky
Clair Lamb, Mayfield
Daughter of Murray State Police Officer Brad Lamb
Murray State University
Callie Edrington Magggard, Louisville
Surviving daughter of Kentucky State Police Trooper Johnny Edrington
Campbellsville University
Jacob Martin, Lexington
Son of Lexington Police Sgt. Brian Martin
Campbellsville University
Kaleb Martin, Somerset
Son of Science Hill Assistant Police Chief Greg Martin
Western Kentucky University
Macy Martin, Lexington
Daughter of Lexington Police Sgt. Brian Martin
Murray State University
Abigail Melkulcok, Wellington
Daughter of Menifee County Sheriff’s Court Security Officer Melinda Mellkulcok
Eastern Kentucky University
Robert Kelly Moss, Maysville
Son of Bracken County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Moss
University of Louisville
Eric Radford, Versailles
Versailles Police officer
Capella University
Anna Shryock, Versailles
Daughter of Woodford County Public School Police School Resource Officer Patrick Shryock
University of Kentucky
Jennifer Thacker, Louisville
Surviving spouse of Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control Investigator Brandon Thacker
Eastern Kentucky University
Brandon Thomas, Mt. Sterling
Son of Winchester Police Officer Daniel Thomas (deceased)
Eastern Kentucky University
Elizabeth Thomas, Lexington
Lexington Police detective
University of the Cumberlands
Kaley Walls, Sadieville
Surviving daughter of Jessamine County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Walls
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Jacie Ward, Morgantown
Daughter of Kentucky State Police Lt. Scottie Ward (retired)
Southern Kentucky Tech College
Levi Ward, Morgantown
Son of Kentucky State Police Lt. Scottie Ward (retired)
John A. Logan Community College
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