NASRO Taking Applications for School Resource Officer Scholarship

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 12/08/09

The National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) is seeking nominations for a scholarship program that helps educate school resource officers. Applicants must be sworn law enforcement officers, belong to NASRO, and be enrolled in a degree program in law enforcement, criminal justice, or something related.

The scholarship is funded by Wren Solutions, which sells security technologies and services.

The previous recipient, Elizabeth Harper, was the school resource officer for Harford County Public Schools working through the Harford County Sheriff in Bel Air, MD. She was also pursuing her criminal justice degree at Harford Community College. The $2,500 scholarship enabled her to continue her studies at a time when her department had cut back on its generous educational reimbursements, she said.

"In a K-12 learning environment as an SRO, I worked side by side with teaching and school administration professionals," Harper said in a blog on the Wren Solutions Web site. "My college course work helped me to connect with them more on a peer level as it regarded teaching, safety, and interaction with the students. At the same time, when the kids at my school found out I was also a student, some connected with me on a peer level themselves, as we were many times facing the same things--such as tons of homework and the stress of exams."

The deadline for the current application is April 9, 2010. The winner will be announced at NASRO's annual conference in August.

"If you're an SRO and you're in college or thinking about going back for your degree, or you know someone in that position, I'd definitely encourage you to take the time to apply. I'd give you the same advice my supervisor gave me: 'You work hard and you're worth it! You have to give it a try to at least have a shot,'" said Harper.