Alex Altamirano
Alex Altamirano of Bethpage, New York, has been named the recipient of the NYPD Scholarship. He currently works in the operations unit with the NYPD, where he monitors and coordinates emergency resources citywide. He has held previous roles in the department as a field training officer and precinct training officer.
“The former CEO and general manager of GM Motors, Jack Welch once said, ‘Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others,’” he said. “This message by Welch exemplifies why I need to grow academically.”
With this scholarship, Altamirano plans to pursue a master’s degree in homeland security.
“I have spent much of my career working in a leadership capacity and providing guidance to others, and I want to continue to learn the necessary skills and attributes that make both a great and effective leader,” he said. “All these experiences have unequivocally prepared me to pursue a master’s degree in the homeland security field.”
Jill Morgan
Jill Morgan of Orange Beach, Alabama, has been awarded the Health and Nursing Scholarship. She is currently a nurse and has always wanted to further her education.
“My projected goals are to further my degree, become debt free, travel often and encourage my children to pursue their dreams,” she said.
With this scholarship, Morgan plans to pursue a master’s degree in nursing leadership and administration of health care systems.
“Becoming a nurse has made a difference in my daily life,” she said. “Furthering my degree will lead me to more opportunities to show others how to also use their skill sets to become better humans and nurses.”
Angela Lewis
Angela Lewis of Galt, California, has been named the recipient of the Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship. She is currently employed with the Sacramento Metropolitan Police Department, where she manages workers’ compensation claims and is also the wife of a firefighter.
“As if this hasn’t has given me sufficient firsthand insight into the physical and emotional challenges that first responders face when injured, I have stood behind my husband as he dealt with a workplace injury in his role as a firefighter that could have easily been prevented,” she said. “Every claim is a reminder of the importance of prevention and the need for strong occupational safety programs tailored specifically to the demands of emergency services.”
With this scholarship, Lewis plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health with a concentration in fire science.
“I understand on a personal level the impact that effective safety programs and policies can have—not only on physical health but also on morale and long-term career sustainability for firefighters,” she said. “I am eager to expand my knowledge and experience to make further strides in creating safer environments which ultimately impact first responders and their families.”
Michael Ford
Michael Ford of Wakefield, Massachusetts, has been named the recipient of the Fire Scholarship. He is passionate about reducing occupational cancer risks within the firefighting field.
“The most important issue facing my career field today is occupational cancer,” he said. “It is the leading cause of line of duty deaths of firefighters in the United States. My own department in Massachusetts has lost two members in the past two years.”
With this scholarship, Ford plans to pursue a master’s degree in emergency services management.
“Much work needs to be done to educate lawmakers, city workers and the general public about firefighter occupational cancer risk,” he said. “In my home state of Massachusetts, the governor signed a bill that restricts the use and manufacture of gear that contains PFAS. While I am proud that my state was [at] the front of the line on this issue, nationally we have so much more work to do.”
Thomas Freeney
Thomas Freeney of North Aurora, Illinois, was awarded the Knight Scholarship. He has overcome challenging obstacles with the desire to further his education.
“This scholarship would provide me with the stability and support I need to focus on my studies without the constant stress of wondering how I will pay for each class,” he said. “It would ease the financial weight of tuition, books and other educational resources, allowing me to dedicate my energy to excelling academically.”
With this scholarship, Freeney plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in information systems and cyber security.
“My life experiences have prepared me for pursuing a degree in information systems and cyber security by teaching me resilience, adaptability and the importance of protecting what matters most,” he said.
Neishaly Lands
Neishaly Lands of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, has been named the recipient of the Business Scholarship. She works with the Alabama Credit Union as a member experience representative.
“In the next five years, my primary goal is to complete my bachelor’s degree in human resources, begin working in the HR department in the credit union I work for and eventually grow into a leadership role where I can make a meaningful impact on employee well-being and organizational culture,” she said. “I’m passionate about being a good leader, even when I’m not in a formal leadership role. To me, leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about influence, integrity and showing up for others consistently.”
With this scholarship, Lands plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human resource management.
“Choosing Columbia Southern University wasn’t just a decision about where to go to school; it was a decision about how to build a better future,” she said. “With the support, structure and opportunity CSU offers, I’m confident I can earn my degree in human resources and eventually pursue a master’s in organizational development.”
Alex Bonomi
Alex Bonomi of Staten Island, New York, has been awarded the NYPD Scholarship. He is currently a civilian employee with the department as an analyst with aspirations to climb the ladder.
“I had planned to utilize the civilian role while I waited to be a police officer, but I was hooked,” he said. “I quickly fell in love with the operations, movement and different inner workings of the department.”
With this scholarship, Bonomi plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in emergency management.
“I began my pursuit at the age of 17 to become an NYPD auxiliary police officer—as a volunteer it was the perfect taste of the world I was so excited to join,” he said. “I had worked well over a thousand hours conducting patrol related functions [and] assisting the police at large scale events. Even though there was no paycheck, the feeling of helping others, involvement with the police department and overall giving back made me feel more fulfilled than most regular jobs I ever had.”
Julia Rock
Julia Rock of Brownsburg, Indiana, has been named the recipient of the Education and Instructional Design Scholarship. She is a public school third-grade teacher and has built a 17-year career in public education.
“As a public school third-grade teacher, continuing education is always a priority in our household,” she said. “Whether you’re pursuing a degree or learning something new from a YouTube video, the goal is to always be learning and growing.”
With this scholarship, Rock plans to pursue a master’s degree in instructional design and technology.
“My projected goals in the next five years are to contribute to the education of diverse learners,” she said. “Beyond the world of public education, there is a world of instructional design that creates materials and programs that allows employees to stay abreast of changing technology and be best in class for their industry.”
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.
