DRUG FUND FINANCES SCHOLARSHIPS

23 recipients are interested in law enforcement career

Money once used to purchase drugs will now be used to buy an
education.

Twenty-three graduating seniors recently received scholarship money
that came from the Nueces County Sheriff's Department drug forfeiture
funds.

"It's a good way to use it," said Jessica Gonzalez, a recent graduate
of Robstown High School.

The sheriff's department gave money from its drug seizure and
forfeiture fund to county schools for the scholarships, called the
Nueces County Sheriff Larry Olivarez Sr. Law Enforcement Scholarships.
To be eligible, students must be interested in a career in law
enforcement.

The scholarship package will be administered in $250 increments per
semester up to $1,000 for each of the 23 students. The Texas Workforce
Commission is in charge of administering the funds.

Legislation passed last year made it possible for sheriff's
departments to use drug forfeiture funds for scholarships.

Grace Guerra, a recent graduate of Bishop High School, said she is
glad for the scholarship and wants to be a juvenile probation officer.

Exciting News

Her mother said she was happy because Grace would be the first of the
three children to attend college but worried about her daughter's
choice of career.

"I'm excited for her," said Janie Guerra. "It sort of kind of scares
me but . . . she can really talk to kids and swing them away from
where they were going."

Grace said she was excited about the news.

"I didn't think I'd get it," she laughed. "Just think, me coming from
little Bishop."

For Students, Community

Susan Greer-Day, youth program director for the Texas Workforce
Commission, was on a committee that reviewed the applicants. She said
she felt the scholarships are important to the students and the community.

"We were looking at what their career goal was and it was also based
on what their financial needs are, their academic achievements, their
extracurricular activities and their community commitment," she said.

Future Plans

Cassandra Esparza, who also graduated from Bishop High School, said
she isn't sure what field she wants to pursue but she does want to
keep law enforcement in the family.

Cassandra said she had wanted to be a police officer since she was a
little girl but now she said she is thinking of maybe a probation
officer, correctional officer or Border Patrol agent.

"I'm not sure yet," she said. "Since I was small I wanted to be a cop.
Now, I've changed. I always thought that when I finished (college) it
would be a real big challenge for me being a woman and doing the same
things that (men) can do."