Hello, my name is Joshua Pontigo. I am currently a freshman at McNeese State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. I graduated from Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida. I was the SGA Vice President of my class and Captain of my football team. I volunteer with my school's Best Buddy program and mentor underclassmen. I have played in two All-Star Football Games my senior year season, and I am currently a preferred walk-on to a McNeese State University D1 college football program. For the past three years, I have volunteered with the Miami Dolphins special teams program painting the homes of veterans, cleaning parks, and packing meals. I believe in giving back to the community and helping others who need a hand up. I am pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice as I enter college. As a third-generation (future) law enforcement officer, I want to find ways to help the less fortunate in our community. Most victims of crime are economically challenged and cannot afford to be victims. I want to work with the community to help empower them and teach them not to be victims or choose the wrong path. I strongly believe in community policing and understand that without cooperation from the community, the job of keeping the community safe becomes almost impossible. My plan once I graduate and join Law Enforcement is to take a proactive role in my community, something I already do. Whether it's participating in "Tip a Cop", in which officers take the role of waiter and waitress and all proceeds go to the local PAL organization or organizing local food drives for families during the holidays. I believe in being a good role model for the youth of the community and would love to begin a youth help club incorporating law enforcement and local businesses to help paint and beautify homes that are run down and dilapidated because of lack of care. Teaching the younger generation to help the older generation that can't afford to help themselves. I also have an idea to help teenagers learn how to balance their bank accounts and create savings plans. As a student in high school, the one thing school doesn't teach anymore is the fundamentals of day-to-day living. As a student in college, I plan to be a proactive member of the student government and help those on campus and in the community. I look forward to getting my career in law enforcement going and pushing these ideas to help others. My dream job is to work for the FBI, Secret Service, or CIA, and I plan to study criminology or criminal justice at the school I choose. I was raised to love this country and to protect it. To help those who cannot help themselves and protect the weak. I figure that by working in the Federal ranks; I can both protect our country and help those that can't help themselves. By being a role model for those like my younger brothers, I hope to show that being in law enforcement isn't what you see on the nightly news or a television show but an honest profession that shows compassion, love, and care for your family, your community, your country, and yourself, and at the end of my career be able to look back at all the good times and say I made a difference in someone life, and help them redeem themselves. Thank You, Joshua Pontigo

Hello, my name is Joshua Pontigo. I am a freshman at McNeese State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. I graduated from Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida. I was the SGA Vice President of my class and Captain of my football team. As a senior at Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida, I volunteer with my school's Best Buddy program and mentor underclassmen. I have played in two All-Star Football Games this past season, and I am currently a preferred walk-on to a McNeese State University D1 college football program. For the past three years, I have volunteered with the Miami Dolphins special teams program painting the homes of veterans, cleaning parks, and packing meals. I believe in giving back to the community and helping others who need a hand up. I believe in leadership and the benefits of using leadership to help others. As the Senior Vice President of my class and try to use that position to help my classmates. I am pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice as I enter college. As a third-generation (future) law enforcement officer, I want to find ways to help the less fortunate in our community. Most victims of crime are economically challenged and cannot afford to be victims. I want to work with the community to help empower them and teach them not to be victims or choose the wrong path. About my family, I have two younger brothers Jacob 13 and Jordan 4. My Mom is a public school teacher and my Dad is a homicide detective. We are a very close family who love to take trips together and seeing my grandparents on the weekend. As a walk-on football player at McNeese and over eight hundred miles from home, my parents work extra to help pay for my tuition, housing and food. My dream job is to work for the FBI, Secret Service, or Homeland Security, and I study criminal justice at McNeese State University. I was raised to love this country and to protect it. To help those who cannot help themselves and protect the weak. I figure that by working in the Federal ranks; I can both protect our country and help those that can't help themselves. By being a role model for those like my younger brothers, I hope to show that being in law enforcement isn't what you see on the nightly news or a television show but an honest profession that shows compassion, love, and care for your family, your community, your country, and yourself, and at the end of my career be able to look back at all the good times and say I made a difference in someone life, and help them redeem themselves. Thank You, Joshua Pontigo

Hello, my name is Joshua Pontigo. I am a freshman at McNeese State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. As a senior at Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida, I believe in leadership and the benefits of using leadership to help others. As the Senior Vice President of my class and try to use that position to help my classmates. I am pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice as I enter college. As a third-generation (future) law enforcement officer, I want to find ways to help the less fortunate in our community. Most victims of crime are economically challenged and cannot afford to be victims. I want to work with the community to help empower them and teach them not to be victims or choose the wrong path. I have watched my father do outreach to the homeless on and off duty and see the benefit this type of activity does. It promotes communication, trust, and understanding on both sides. It allows law enforcement to understand the people they serve and allows the people to interact with law enforcement in a way they had never experienced before. My plan once I graduate and join Law Enforcement is to take a proactive role in my community, something I already do. I believe in being a good role model for the youth of the community and would love to begin a youth help club incorporating law enforcement and local businesses to help paint and beautify homes that are run down and dilapidated because of lack of care. Teaching the younger generation to help the older generation that can't afford to help themselves. I also have an idea to help teenagers learn how to balance their bank accounts and create savings plans. As a student in college, I plan to be a proactive member of the student government and help those on campus and in the community. I look forward to getting my career in law enforcement going and pushing these ideas to help others. I graduated from Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida. I was the SGA Vice President of my class and Captain of my football team. I volunteer with my school's Best Buddy program and mentor underclassmen. I have played in two All-Star Football Games this past season, and I am currently a preferred walk-on to a McNeese State University D1 college football program. For the past three years, I have volunteered with the Miami Dolphins special teams program painting the homes of veterans, cleaning parks, and packing meals. I believe in giving back to the community and helping others who need a hand up. My dream job is to work for the FBI, Secret Service, or CIA, and I plan to study criminology or criminal justice at the school I choose. I was raised to love this country and to protect it. To help those who cannot help themselves and protect the weak. I figure that by working in the Federal ranks; I can both protect our country and help those that can't help themselves. By being a role model for those like my younger brothers, I hope to show that being in law enforcement isn't what you see on the nightly news or a television show but an honest profession that shows compassion, love, and care for your family, your community, your country, and yourself, and at the end of my career be able to look back at all the good times and say I made a difference in someone life, and help them redeem themselves. Thank You, Joshua Pontigo

Hello, my name is Joshua Pontigo. I am a freshman at McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I believe in leadership and the benefits of using leadership to help others. As a senior at Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida. I became the Senior Vice President of my class and try to use that position to help my classmates. I am pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice as I enter college. As a third-generation (future) law enforcement officer, I want to find ways to help the less fortunate in our community. Most victims of crime are economically challenged and cannot afford to be victims. I want to work with the community to help empower them and teach them not to be victims or choose the wrong path. I come from a long line of Police Officers, my Grandfather came from Cuba in 1959, and my Dad joined the U.S. Army after High School. Both became Police Officers that reached the rank of detective in the Homicide Unit. While growing up, the first car I ever drove was a Black and White patrol car while I sat on my dad's lap. I have watched my Grandfather and my Dad put in long hours and work hard to provide for their families. While at the same time, I have learned of the benefits of helping the community, whether it's finding a lost child, helping a homeless person reunite with their family, or putting a murderer in jail for the rest of their life. I see how my father smiles when he has had a good day and cries when it goes all wrong. The stories my dad tells, and the brother/sisterhood he has with his squad tell me this is the career I want to follow. I have watched my father do outreach to the homeless on and off duty and see the benefit this type of activity does. It promotes communication, trust, and understanding on both sides. It allows law enforcement to understand the people they serve and allows the people to interact with law enforcement in a way they had never experienced before. I strongly believe in community policing and understand that without cooperation from the community, the job of keeping the community safe becomes almost impossible. My plan once I graduate and join Law Enforcement is to take a proactive role in my community, something I already do. Whether it's participating in "Tip a Cop", in which officers take the role of waiter and waitress and all proceeds go to the local PAL organization or organizing local food drives for families during the holidays. I believe in being a good role model for the youth of the community and would love to begin a youth help club incorporating law enforcement and local business to help paint and beautify homes that are run down and dilapidated because of lack of care. Teaching the younger generation to help the older generation that can't afford to help themselves. I also have an idea to help teenagers learn how to balance their bank accounts and create savings plans. As a student in high school, the one thing school doesn't teach anymore is the fundamentals of day-to-day living. As a student in college, I plan to be a proactive member of the student government and help those on campus and in the community. I look forward to getting my career in law enforcement going and pushing these ideas to help others. Thank You, Joshua Pontigo

Hello, my name is Joshua Pontigo. I am a freshmen at McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I believe in leadership and the benefits of using leadership to help others. As a senior at Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida. I became the Senior Vice President of my class and try to use that position to help my classmates. I am pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice as I enter college. As a third-generation (future) law enforcement officer, I want to find ways to help the less fortunate in our community. Most victims of crime are economically challenged and cannot afford to be victims. I want to work with the community to help empower them and teach them not to be victims or choose the wrong path. I come from a long line of Police Officers, my Grandfather came from Cuba in 1959, and my Dad joined the U.S. Army after High School. Both became Police Officers that reached the rank of detective in the Homicide Unit. While growing up, the first car I ever drove was a Black and White patrol car while I sat on my dad's lap. I have watched my Grandfather and my Dad put in long hours and work hard to provide for their families. While at the same time, I have learned of the benefits of helping the community, whether it's finding a lost child, helping a homeless person reunite with their family, or putting a murderer in jail for the rest of their life. I see how my father smiles when he has had a good day and cries when it goes all wrong. The stories my dad tells, and the brother/sisterhood he has with his squad tell me this is the career I want to follow. I have watched my father do outreach to the homeless on and off duty and see the benefit this type of activity does. It promotes communication, trust, and understanding on both sides. It allows law enforcement to understand the people they serve and allows the people to interact with law enforcement in a way they had never experienced before. I strongly believe in community policing and understand that without cooperation from the community, the job of keeping the community safe becomes almost impossible. My plan once I graduate and join Law Enforcement is to take a proactive role in my community, something I already do. Whether it's participating in "Tip a Cop", in which officers take the role of waiter and waitress and all proceeds go to the local PAL organization or organizing local food drives for families during the holidays. I believe in being a good role model for the youth of the community and would love to begin a youth help club incorporating law enforcement and local business to help paint and beautify homes that are run down and dilapidated because of lack of care. Teaching the younger generation to help the older generation that can't afford to help themselves. I also have an idea to help teenagers learn how to balance their bank accounts and create savings plans. As a student in high school, the one thing school doesn't teach anymore is the fundamentals of day-to-day living. As a student in college, I plan to be a proactive member of the student government and help those on campus and in the community. I look forward to getting my career in law enforcement going and pushing these ideas to help others. Thank You, Joshua Pontigo

Hello, my name is Joshua Pontigo. I am a Senior at Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida. I currently have a 3.4 GPA and I am Vice President of the senior class. Why am I passionate about sports? Football has taught me many things, never to quit, always be a leader, and especially teamwork. Sports motivate me to do better on and off the field. It taught me to be a leader, which I have accepted and plan to keep being for all I come into contact with. It has taught me commitment not only to myself but to family, friends, and community. My commitment to giving back to my community has been a big part of my journey through high school. I have put in more than 200 hours of volunteer service since being a freshman. Working as a volunteer in the aftercare program at Silver Shores Elementary has given me the opportunity to tutor low-income students. Volunteering as a flag football coach at the YMCA has allowed me to mentor and teach teamwork to the youth in my community. Every summer since becoming a freshman I have been able to volunteer with the Miami Dolphins Special Teams. Through this opportunity, I have been able to help feed the homeless, clean garbage in city parks and give back to my community. Out of all the volunteer opportunities that I have participated in, the one closest to my heart is working with Best Buddies. These students are extraordinary, their enthusiasm for life and their abilities to impact others, has given me a purpose to continue to serve others. My commitment to family is to show them the love and support they showed me my entire life and to always be there for my younger brothers. They have sacrificed for me and not only do I recognize that I want to make sure to always be the example they deserve. My commitment to my friends on and off the field has always been to teach them the right way and to always give them a hand when they need it. To help motivate them on the field as well as in the class room. this is why I ran for SGA Vice-President. My commitment to myself is to give myself every chance to succeed. To never quit on myself and to always find the right path to follow. These commitments to myself, my family, my friends, and my community is what I learned on the field and from some of the greatest guys I have known. It is my dream to teach the next generation the lessons that I have learned so they can move forward and teach the generation after them.

Hello, my name is Joshua Pontigo. I am a senior at Cooper City High School, in Broward County, Florida. I believe in leadership and the benefits of using leadership to help others. I am the Senior Vice President of my class and try to use that position to help my classmates. I will be pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice as I enter college. As a third-generation (future) law enforcement officer, I want to find ways to help the less fortunate in our community. Most victims of crime are economically challenged and cannot afford to be victims. I want to work with the community to help empower them and teach them not to be victims or choose the wrong path. I have watched my father do outreach to the homeless on and off duty and see the benefit this type of activity does. It promotes communication, trust, and understanding on both sides. It allows law enforcement to understand the people they serve and allows the people to interact with law enforcement in a way they never had experienced before. I strongly believe in community policing and understand without cooperation from the community the job of keeping the community safe becomes almost impossible. My plan once I graduate and join Law Enforcement is to take a proactive role in my community, something I already do. Whether it's participating in "Tip a Cop", in which officers take the role of waiter and waitress and all proceeds go to the local PAL organization, or organizing local food drives for families during the holidays. I believe in being a good role model for the youth of the community and would love to begin a youth help club incorporating law enforcement and local business to help paint and beautify homes that are run down and dilapidated because of lack of care. Teaching the younger generation to help the older generation that can't afford to help themselves. I also have an idea to help teenagers learn how to balance their bank accounts and create savings plans. As a student in high school, the one thing school doesn't teach anymore is the fundamentals of day-to-day living. As a student in college, I plan to be a proactive member of the student government and help those on campus and in the community. I look forward to getting my career in law enforcement going and pushing these ideas to help others.

Hello, My name is Joshua Pontigo, I am a senior at Cooper City High School in Broward County, Florida, and have played varsity football for the past four years. I love all sports and working out. I have played organized sports since I was seven years old. I have learned the value of sportsmanship through my mentors in the sport of football. Sports I have realized kept me grounded and focused on my dreams. Athletics has kept me motivated in school and has propelled me to be elected SGA Vice President of my class. Athletics and working out make me feel happy and when I am upset or depressed I go to the local park and work out. I have five true friends in my life and all of them I met playing sports, which I feel fortunate for. Leadership has been my biggest learned lesson from athletics. It has taught me to take responsibility for not only my actions but of my teammates. I love playing the role of leader, whether that's on the field or in the classroom. I enjoy mentoring younger players and new students coming into high school. I believe that this quality will help me stand out at the next level of sports and can't wait to start my journey. Athletics has introduced me to a lifestyle that I didn't know. before organized sports, I ate the wrong things and sat around playing video games. Which caused my weight to skyrocket. Now by eating right and working out, I am 6'2" 235 lbs. and in great shape. I am mentally and physically better for it. Athletics has taken me down a path that has brought me to places and to meet people that I would never have had the chance to meet, without sports. I wish to continue on this path by playing football in college and continuing my journey to fulfill my dreams. My plans after college are to use not only what I learn in the classroom, but take what I have learned on the field in my chosen career of Law Enforcement, for the FBI, Secret Service, or CIA. I believe sports can be used in many different careers. In law enforcement, the lessons I have learned about compassion and leadership will be an asset to my professional growth and move me through the ranks. I will always credit athletics for the opportunities that have been presented with in my life.

I don't know if there is a specific event as much as my upbringing. My Grandfather and Father have both been police officers and rose to the rank of Detective in their respective agencies. The first car I ever drove was a black and white patrol car while sitting on my Father's lap. I have watched my dad put in long hours to make his community safe and provide for his family. While at the same time, I have learned of the benefits of helping the community. Whether it's finding a lost child, helping a homeless person reunite with their family, or putting a murderer away for life. I have seen how my father smiles when he has had a good day and cries when it all went wrong. The stories my dad tells and the brother/sisterhood he has with his squad tell me this is the career I want to be a part of. I am proud of my Grandfather and Dad for the job they have done and the difference they have made. I want to be able to say at the end of my career how I helped a child find their way home or brought a family member closer, who lost a loved one to violence. My dream job is to work for the FBI, Secret Service, or CIA and plan to study criminology or criminal justice at the school I choose. I was raised to love this country and to protect it. To help those who cannot help themselves and protect the weak. I figure by working as a law enforcement officer in the federal ranks, I can both protect this country and help those that can't help themselves. By being a role model for those like my younger brothers, I hope to show that being in law enforcement isn't what you see on the nightly news or a television show, but a profession made up of people with a goal to make their community better by example and being that person that others can point to and admire. I believe in organized sports that teach, teamwork and sportsmanship. I believe in volunteering in my community and helping those who can't help themselves or needs a hand up, and want to continue volunteering into my adult life. In short, I want to give back to my community plain and simple, while providing for my family, and enjoy my life and know i did what i could do to make this world a little better.

I come from a long line of Police Officers, my Grandfather came from Cuba in 1959 and my Dad joined the U.S. army after High School. Both became Police Officers that reached the rank of detective in the Homicide Unit. While growing up the first car I ever drove was a Black and White patrol car, while I sat on my dad's lap. I have watched my Grandfather and my Dad put in long hours and work hard to provide for their families. While at the same time, I have learned of the benefits of helping the community, whether it's finding a lost child, helping a homeless person reunite with their family or putting a murderer in jail for the rest of their life. I see how my father smiles when he has had a good day and cries when it went all wrong. The stories my dad tells and the brother/sisterhood he has with his squad tell me this is the career I want to follow. Enough of my dad, I guess you want to know about me. I am a senior at Cooper City High School, in Broward County, Florida. I am the SGA Vice President of my class and Captain of my football team. I am currently planning our prom and preparing the festivities for that night. As SGA Vice President I participate in debates, meeting with school administrators and other SGA programs around the county. I am a volunteer with my school's Best Buddy program and mentor to underclassmen. I have played in two All-Star Football Games this past season and trying to walk on to a D1 college football program, but have several partial offers at smaller schools. I currently have a job as a food prep in a local restaurant and work three days a week, while still going to the gym and preparing to play college football. For the past three years, I have volunteered with the Miami Dolphins special teams program painting the homes of veterans, cleaning parks, and packing meals. I believe in giving back to the community and helping others that need a hand up. My dream job is to work for the FBI, Secret Service, or CIA and plan to study criminology or criminal justice at the school I choose. I was raised to love this country and to protect it. To help those who cannot help themselves and protect the weak. I figure by working in the Federal ranks I can both protect our country and help those that can't help themselves. By being a role model for those like my younger brothers I hope to show that being in law enforcement isn't what you see on the nightly news or a television show, but an honest profession that shows compassion, love, and care for your family, your community, your country, and your self, and at the end of my career be able to look back at all the good times and say I made a difference in someone life, and help them redeem themselves. Thank You, Joshua Pontigo