Jacob King awarded $1,000 scholarship to study law enforcement

Bethany Christian School graduate Jacob King of Sterling Heights has been awarded a $1,000 Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) Dream Scholarship.
He is among 22 top students who will receive the award to encourage their pursuit of law enforcement/public safety careers by the professional public safety officers of LEEP.
“I am a very motivated individual with a strong work ethic. I desire to become a third-generation police officer and this scholarship would help me accomplish that goal,” King wrote in his scholarship application.
Jacob’s father Mark King was a Fraser police sergeant, serving the department 27 years before being hired as a Van Buren Township police officer. Jacob’s grandfather E.J. King was also a Fraser police officer.
Officer Mark King said he and his family live in Sterling Heights.
Jacob plans to use his $1,000 LEEP Dream Scholarship at Spring Arbor University, where he plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. King also received $14,000 in scholarships for his baseball skills and excellent grades.
Jacob’s neighbors, Paul and Susan Gonzales, have known him since he was little and have employed him for the past three years for snow removal and lawn maintenance.
“We were not surprised when we discussed Jacob’s career ambitions that he expressed his desire to enter law enforcement. He comes from a family that instills service to others and they are dedicated to public service,” the Gonzaleses wrote in a letter of recommendation. “On several occasions the entire family has come out to shovel snow for many of our older neighbors without expecting or accepting payment for their kindness.
“Jacob’s dependability, courtesy, reliability and efficiency are well beyond what would be expected from someone his age just entering the workforce,” the Gonzaleses wrote.
Jacob, who graduated high school with a 3.53 GPA, participated in band, Brass Ensemble, choir, Vocal Ensemble, Men’s Quartet Vocal, orchestra, baseball, basketball in high school. He was Class Vice President, Pep Club Chairman, and Captain of the baseball team.
In the community, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Troy Choir and Orchestra and went on a mission trip to Colchester, Conn. where he taught Vacation Bible School to encourage area parents to bring their children to church.
Other scholarship winners from Michigan are: Mason Averill, Blake Erickson, Ryan Ferguson, Victoria Gunst, Jenna Klokkert and Austin Lynema.
In its 12th year, LEEP has awarded some $162,000 in Dream scholarships to students showing a demonstrated interest in public service/law enforcement careers. The non-profit public safety group’s scholarship program is made possible by a growing list of national supporters.
Visit www.leepusa.com for more information about LEEP programs.