Annette Headley
Annette Headley of Ward Cove, Alaska, has been named the recipient of the Criminal Justice Scholarship. She currently serves as the evidence custodian with the Ketchikan Police Department with dreams of becoming a crime scene technician.
“Enrolling in Columbia Southern University has been a key step toward reaching my goal,” she said. “Through the forensic program, I hope to gain the education and specialized knowledge that will allow me to not only enhance my current role but also expand our department’s capabilities.”
With this scholarship, Headley plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in forensic investigation.
“While I plan to continue serving my department here in Alaska after completing my degree, I also know that earning this credential could open new doors for me across the country,” she said. “It’s an exciting prospect, and I’m motivated to use this opportunity to its fullest, both to grow personally and to give back to the department and community that have supported me.”
Darlene Tommelleo
Darlene Tommelleo of Caledonia, Ohio, has been awarded the Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship. She is currently an employment sourcing coordinator with the State of Ohio with plans to transfer to the human resource department.
“This has been a lifelong goal of mine since 1992, and now I finally have the opportunity to pursue this goal,” she said. “Receiving this scholarship will enable me to take more classes and consecutively.”
With this scholarship, Tommelleo plans to pursue a master’s degree in human resource management.
“The value of appreciation and hard work was instilled in me,” she said. “I have carried this with me throughout my lifetime.”
Joshua Churchill-Broadbery
Joshua Churchill-Broadbery of Prescott, Arizona, has been named the recipient of the Safety Scholarship. After being employed with the U.S. Forest Service for four years, Churchill-Broadbery has learned the importance of safety in the workplace with his current position.
“The first thing I noticed was that my ranger district lacked the basic safety training and equipment I was provided in every other forest,” he said. “My position description had nothing to do with safety, but I made it my priority anyways. I distributed health and safety handbooks, made sure we purchased new PPE, updated and revised both the emergency action plan and the radio procedures. Most importantly, I ensured all my coworkers received their necessary training.”
With this scholarship, Churchill-Broadbery plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health.
“I routinely work overtime and weekends to improve our policies, and I love doing it, which is why I’m pursuing this degree,” he said.
Nathan Cochran
Nathan Cochran of Newnan, Georgia, has been awarded the Knight Scholarship. He has witnessed firsthand the complexities surrounding the criminal justice system and aims to implement changes for improvement.
“Having personally witnessed violence and corruption within Fulton County’s system, I’ve seen how inadequate oversight, understaffing and poor conditions create environments that undermine rehabilitation and public safety,” he said. “These conditions not only violate basic human rights but significantly impair successful reentry into society.”
With this scholarship, Cochran plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration with a concentration in forensic psychology.
“As I pursue criminal justice studies at Columbia Southern University, these issues drive my commitment to developing evidence-based solutions that balance public safety with human dignity, fairness and effective rehabilitation,” he said. “My personal experiences with the system’s failures fuel my determination to contribute to meaningful reform.”
Robert Jorgensen
Robert Jorgensen of Acton, Massachusetts, has been named the recipient of the NAEMT Scholarship. He is currently a firefighter paramedic with the Lexington Fire Department.
“Over the next five years, my goal is to take on a leadership role within the emergency management field in the greater Boston area, with a focus on strengthening regional coordination and preparedness,” he said. “Public safety agencies in this region depend heavily on mutual aid and interagency collaboration, and I want to be in a position to improve how departments train, communicate and respond together during large-scale emergencies.”
With this scholarship, Jorgensen plans to pursue a master’s degree in emergency services management.
“This scholarship and degree will position me to lead those efforts with credibility and technical expertise,” he said. “I am committed to helping make the region my family now calls home stronger, safer, and more prepared through both my work on the front lines and in future leadership roles that shape how we respond together.”
Shane Hoggard
Shane Hoggard of Newport News, Virginia, has been awarded the Signal Mutual Scholarship. Having completed three years of college after high school, Hoggard had to drop out due to a family loss.
“It was at that time I could no longer worry about myself; I had to make sure everything was taken care of, and bills were getting paid, so I left school and started my career,” he said. “I spent three hard long years working towards [my degree] and have nothing to show for it.”
With this scholarship, Hoggard plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health.
“I had made myself a promise 15 years ago that I would one day finish what I started, not only for me but for my family and my children,” he said. “I would also like to show my two kids that I didn’t give up; I just pushed back my graduation date, and anything can be done if you keep pushing and put your mind to it.”
For more information about Columbia Southern University’s scholarships, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Scholarships.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
