Matthew Rodgers of Cusseta awarded South Georgia Technical College Foundation Lou Crouch Law Enforcement Scholarship
Matthew Rodgers of Cusseta, GA, was presented with the Lou Crouch Law Enforcement Scholarship by the South Georgia Technical College Foundation at the completion of the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy Class 24 – 01 graduation ceremony recently. Rodgers earned his Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification from the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship,” said Rodgers. “I started the Law Enforcement Academy for many reasons, but the biggest one was that I wanted to be a part of an honorable profession. I have had a mentor since I was a kid. This mentor wore several different hats around town. I was always intrigued by the amount of time and effort he put into the community. He showed many of us kids what it was like to do something bigger than yourself.
“I left the start of a career as a powersports technician to come over to law enforcement because of the impact the mentor had on my life. The Butler Police Department hired me and sponsored me for the Law Enforcement Academy. And now after talking to the SGTC Criminal Justice Instructor I have decided to continue my education and pursue my associate degree in Criminal Justice. I only have a few classes remaining and this scholarship will be a great help,” added Rodgers. “I want to make a career out of law enforcement and this scholarship will help me further my education and in turn help me to be a better officer and an active member of society.”
Lou Crouch of Elko endowed his first scholarship at South Georgia Technical College in January 2013 to assist students who enrolled in the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy and with Clark, Crouch has provided scholarships for 39 students so far.
South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the SGTC Foundation Su Ann Bird congratulated Rodgers on receiving the Lou Crouch scholarship and wished him the best as he starts his career as a POST certified officer. “I am very proud of you and I am thankful to Lou Crouch and the other individuals who have supported the SGTC Law Enforcement Academy through individual scholarships,” said Bird.
“This scholarship is a tremendous help to the young men and women who are training to become public servants and work as law enforcement officers here in Georgia. This scholarship is not only helping our students but it is making communities safer. We appreciate Lou Crouch’s involvement and the financial support of this program and our students,” said Bird.
For more information about donating or establishing an endowed scholarship at South Georgia Technical College contact Su Ann Bird, SGTC Foundation Executive Director at 229.931.2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu. Contributions may also be mailed to the SGTC Foundation, P.O. Box 6102, Americus, GA.
South Georgia Tech is one of five technical colleges in Georgia that are allowed to provide training for new law enforcement officers to receive their basic law enforcement training and obtain college credit at the same time. The cadets undergo 11 weeks of intense training mentally and physically.
The LEA graduates receive their POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certification from South Georgia Technical College as well as a technical certificate of credit that can be utilized toward a diploma or Associate Degree in Criminal Justice.
For more information about the Law Enforcement Academy contact the Law Enforcement Academy office at 229.931.2716 or SGTC Law Enforcement Academy Director Brett Murray at 229.931.2756 or bmurray@southgatech.edu.