Shelly Landers awarded Lou Crouch SGTC Law Enforcement Scholarship

December 20, 2018

South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy Director Brett Murray is shown above presenting the Lou Crouch Scholarship to Shelly Landers of Americus at the SGTC Law Enforcement Academy graduation 18-02 recently. Lou Crouch was unable to attend.

Shelly Landers of Americus was presented with the Lou Crouch Law Enforcement Scholarship at the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy Class 18 – 02 graduation ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the SGTC Americus campus recently. Landers earned her Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification from the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy and plans to enter the Law Enforcement Career.

Landers expressed her appreciation for being selected as the Lou Crouch Law Enforcement Scholarship recipient. “I am very grateful for this scholarship,” said Landers, who will be working with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department. “I only have three more classes to take before I receive my associate degree in Criminal Justice and this scholarship will be extremely beneficial to me in the completing that journey.”
Landers distinctly remembers the day that she decided to become a law enforcement officer. “I was 15 and on my way to school when I noticed a car accident the next road over. The accident wasn’t anything serious and I am sure the injuries were minor, but it stuck with me. I saw an officer helping these people, keeping them calm and doing whatever he could to help them. I knew then that this was what I was meant to do. To help people when they needed it the most. Whether it be a simple accident or a serious tragedy,” explained Landers.
“I understand how important it is to continue my education. Only I can take advantage of this opportunity, no one else can do it for me. I also consider it to be my responsibility for my safety and the safety of others to be as knowledgeable as I can about the criminal justice system. I know that education is one the most important thing a person ca give to themselves. I appreciate this scholarship and I hope to become an officer that myself and my future department can be proud of,” added Landers.
Lou Crouch of Bryon 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 Landers, Crouch has provided scholarships for 15 students so far.

“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,” said SGTC Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird. “This scholarship is not only helping our students but it is making communities safer. We appreciate Lou Crouch’s involvement and financial support of this program and our students.”
For more information about making a donation 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 six 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 18 weeks and over 700 hours 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 SGTC Dean Academic Affairs Vanessa Wall in Americus at 229.931.2713.