Coastal GA News

The Torras Foundation, Inc., has created a special scholarship at the College of Coastal Georgia to benefit the family members of law enforcement officers in the area—the Torras Foundation Scholarship for Law Enforcement Families.

The Torras Foundation has long supported the College and local law enforcement. The scholarship was created to help students further their education and show appreciation for law enforcement. A $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to three students per academic year. To be eligible, a student must be a spouse or child of an active law enforcement officer. Law enforcement officers enrolled at the College are also eligible if their agency does not currently have an employee tuition reimbursement plan. Eligible law enforcement agencies include Glynn County Police, Brunswick City Police, and the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office.

The Torras Foundation has committed to funding three scholarships each academic year beginning in 2023. Daren Pietsch and Michael Torras of the Torras Foundation, presented a $6,000 check to College President Michelle Johnston to start the new scholarship. In attendance to show their support of the scholarship were former Glynn County Police Chief Jacques Battiste, Campus Police Chief Bryan Sipe, Brunswick Police Chief Kevin Jones, and Glynn County Sheriff Neal Jump.

“The Torras Foundation is very grateful for the work of law enforcement in our community. We wanted to acknowledge their impact and dedication,” Pietsch said. “By partnering with the College, we hope that many will be encouraged to pursue their degree and give back to the community.”

Jump thanked Pietsch and Torras for helping law enforcement officers further their education.

“This scholarship will help officers prepare for their next leadership roles,” Jump said. “Many students want to follow in their parent’s footsteps who are in law enforcement. This will build them up and give them that start.”

Interim Glynn County Police Chief O’Neal Jackson III also expressed his gratitude.

“We are grateful to the Torras Foundation scholarship for providing an opportunity for our law enforcement members and their families to attend college. We also value the support of the Torras Foundation and their efforts to make college more affordable and attainable, ultimately contributing to the success of our future leaders in the community.”

Jones was excited about this opportunity and what it means.

“The scholarship will go a long way in making college more affordable for the families of those who serve the community,” Jones said. “We are grateful for this partnership that will allow officers and their children to pursue different educational opportunities.”

Johnston believes that the scholarship is an investment in both public safety and the local community.

“We recognize the efforts of those who help keep the campus and surrounding areas safe for faculty, staff, and students—having this opportunity is a big deal,” Johnston said. “Our Campus Police Department and local law enforcement have often partnered together in response to different incidents and emergencies in the community. That is why we’re very happy to partner with the Torras Foundation to support our law enforcement in this special way.”

Original source can be found here.