MY PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE From the 18-week mark of my existence, my parents knew I would be a special human. They just didn’t know what degree. In 2007, during my mother’s routine prenatal ultrasound, it was discovered that I would be born with only one kidney. Thankfully my only kidney functions normally at this point in my life, but it has played a strong role and directed me to who I am today. My mother took the doctor seriously when he said “no impact” sports. As a young man standing 6’5”, it has been disappointing to not get to play football, something I wanted to do and spent my childhood idolizing NFL athletes. It was especially hard when my friends played football in the neighborhood and because I never played, I was never chosen. As bad as it felt to be excluded, I didn’t let it get me down, and I shifted my focus as a preteen. I began learning to play golf through a community program called FirstTee. FirstTee taught me the fundamentals of a proper grip, stance, and body pivot. With practice, I became a strong competitor. In High School, I made the golf team and got to experience what being on a team felt like. I set goals for myself and achieved them. I enjoyed the hard work and many hours endured to set me up for success. Golf instilled the values of team connection, integrity and accountability - principles that will guide me well into the future. My mother has always been a role model in my life from the very beginning. As a single parent, she worked hard and often long hours. She ingrained in me at an early age the love for others and the importance of fellowship as well as hard work. Unfortunately, this past December she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This has been a hard season for her and our family. Watching her go through chemotherapy and surgery has been hard for me, but through resiliency and determination, she will fight this disease and survive. It was her that told me when I was 4 years old, that I was a good “police officer”. I made sure my friends played by the correct game rules and if someone didn’t, I would call them out, often running back home in tears. I guess she was right because today, as a senior in Highschool, I am set on leaving home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the University level. I believe I am called to make a difference, and I believe that it takes place in a law enforcement workplace. A police officer builds strong connections within the community, performs their duties with precision and integrity, and most importantly communicates effectively with others. Additionally, emotional intelligence in an essential skill for performing this job effectively. Police officers must also make decisions under pressure on a daily basis, and I believe I will be able to handle those situations well. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a career choice of mine; it’s a commitment to public service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community, and gaining trust by upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would all me to continue my education with focus and determination. I plan to intern with a local police station to better prepare myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect. Thanks to the values that sports and my mother instilled in me, I pledge to make a positive impact as a peace officer who leads by example and will continue to be generous to both humans and nature. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg

MY PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE From the 18-week mark of my existence, my parents knew I would be a special human. They just didn’t know what degree. In 2007, during my mother’s routine prenatal ultrasound, it was discovered that I would be born with only one kidney. Thankfully my only kidney functions normally at this point in my life, but it has played a strong role and directed me to who I am today. My mother took the doctor seriously when he said “no impact” sports. As a young man standing 6’5”, it has been disappointing to not get to play football, something I wanted to do and spent my childhood idolizing NFL athletes. It was especially hard when my friends played football in the neighborhood and because I never played, I was never chosen. As bad as it felt to be excluded, I didn’t let it get me down, and I shifted my focus as a preteen. I began learning to play golf through a community program called FirstTee. FirstTee taught me the fundamentals of a proper grip, stance, and body pivot. With practice, I became a strong competitor. In High School, I made the golf team and got to experience what being on a team felt like. I set goals for myself and achieved them. I enjoyed the hard work and many hours endured to set me up for success. Golf instilled the values of integrity and accountability - principles that will guide me well into the future. Another sport I have fully committed to is weightlifting. I have been lifting weights consistently for four years. I enjoy creating my own workout schedules, setting goals, reaching personal records, and staying focused during training. The benefits I have seen from maintaining a consistent training routine include improved overall health. I believe establishing these habits early in life will continue to benefit my health as I get older. In addition to sports, one of my other passions in life are muscle cars. The raw performance of fast cars designed for acceleration is totally appealing to me. I have a love for many types of cars, but the Ford Mustang remains at the top of my list. The legacy it has left on American made muscle cars is unparallel. My mother has always been a role model in my life from the very beginning. She ingrained in me at an early age the love for others and the importance of fellowship. Unfortunately, this past December she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This has been a hard season for her and our family. Watching her go through chemotherapy and surgery has been hard for me, but through resiliency and determination, she will fight this disease and survive. It was her that told me when I was 4 years old, that I was a good “police officer”. I made sure my friends played by the correct game rules and if someone didn’t, I would call them out, often running back home in tears. I guess she was right because today, as a senior in Highschool, I am set on leaving home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the University level. I believe I am called to make a difference, and I believe that it takes place in a law enforcement workplace. A police officer builds strong connections within the community, performs their duties with precision and integrity, and most importantly communicates effectively with others. Additionally, emotional intelligence in an essential skill for performing this job effectively. Police officers must also make decisions under pressure on a daily basis, and I believe I will be able to handle those situations well. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a career choice of mine; it’s a commitment to public service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community, and gaining trust by upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would all me to continue my education with focus and determination. I plan to intern with a local police station to better prepare myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect. Thanks to the values that sports and my mother instilled in me, I pledge to make a positive impact as a peace officer who leads by example and will continue to be generous to both humans and nature. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg

MY PATH TO PUBLIC SERVICE From the 18-week mark of my existence, my parents knew I would be a special human. They just didn’t know what degree. In 2008, during my mother’s routine prenatal ultrasound, it was discovered that I would be born with only one kidney. Thankfully my only kidney functions normally at this point in my life, but it has played a strong role and directed me to who I am today. My mother took the doctor seriously when he said “no impact” sports. As a young man standing 6’5”, it has been disappointing to not get to play football, something I wanted to do and spent my childhood idolizing NFL athletes. It was especially hard when my friends played football in the neighborhood and because I never played, I was never chosen. As bad as it felt to be excluded, I didn’t let it get me down, and I shifted my focus as a preteen. I began learning to play golf through a community program called FirstTee. FirstTee taught me the fundamentals of a proper grip, stance, and body pivot. With practice, I became a strong competitor. In High School, I made the golf team and got to experience what being on a team felt like. I set goals for myself and achieved them. I enjoyed the hard work and many hours endured to set me up for success. Golf instilled the values of integrity and accountability - principles that will guide me well into the future. In addition to sports, one of my other passions in life are muscle cars. The raw performance of fast cars designed for acceleration is totally appealing to me. I have a love for many types of cars, but the Ford Mustang remains at the top of my list. The legacy it has left on American made muscle cars is unparallel. My mother has always been a role model in my life from the very beginning. She ingrained in me at an early age the love for others and the importance of fellowship. Unfortunately, this past December she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This has been a hard season for her and our family. Watching her go through chemotherapy and surgery has been hard for me, but through resiliency and determination, she will fight this disease and survive. It was her that told me when I was 4 years old, that I was a good “police officer”. I made sure my friends played by the correct game rules and if someone didn’t, I would call them out, often running back home in tears. I guess she was right because today, as a senior in Highschool, I am set on leaving home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the University level. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a career choice of mine; it’s a commitment to service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community, and gaining trust by upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would all me to continue my education with focus and determination, better preparing myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect. Thanks to the values my mother instilled in me, I pledge to make a positive impact as a peace officer who leads by example and will continue to be generous to both humans and nature. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg

THE NEED FOR SPEED From the 18-week mark of my existence, my parents knew I would be a special human. They just didn’t know what degree. In 2007, during my mother’s routine prenatal ultrasound, it was discovered that I would be born with only one kidney. Thankfully my only kidney functions normally at this point in my life, but it has played a strong role and directed me to who I am today. My mother took the doctor seriously when he said “no impact” sports. As a young man standing 6’5”, it has been disappointing to not get to play football, something I wanted to do and spent my childhood idolizing NFL athletes. It was especially hard when my friends played football in the neighborhood and because I never played, I was never chosen. As bad as it felt to be excluded, I didn’t let it get me down, and I shifted my focus as a preteen. I began learning to play golf through a community program called FirstTee in the Oklahoma City area. FirstTee taught me the fundamentals of a proper grip, stance, and body pivot. With practice, I became a strong competitor. In High School, I made the golf team and got to experience what being on a team felt like. I set goals for myself and achieved them. I enjoyed the hard work and many hours endured to set me up for success. Golf instilled the values of integrity and accountability - principles that will guide me well into the future. In addition to sports, one of my other passions in life are muscle cars. The raw performance of fast cars designed for acceleration is totally appealing to me. I have a love for many types of cars, but the Ford Mustang remains at the top of my list. The legacy it has left on American made muscle cars is unparallel. My mother has always been a role model in my life from the very beginning. She ingrained in me at an early age the love for others and the importance of fellowship. Unfortunately, this past December she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This has been a hard season for her and our family. Watching her go through chemotherapy and surgery has been hard for me, but through resiliency and determination, she will fight this disease and survive. It was her that told me when I was 4 years old, that I was a good “police officer”. I made sure my friends played by the correct game rules and if someone didn’t, I would call them out, often running back home in tears. I guess she was right because today, as a senior in Highschool, I am set on leaving home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the University level. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a career choice of mine; it’s a commitment to service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community, and gaining trust by upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would all me to continue my education with focus and determination to achieve a college degree. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect. Thanks to the values that Golf and my mother instilled in me, I pledge to make a positive impact as a peace officer who leads by example and will continue to be generous to both humans and nature. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg

THE NEED FOR SPEED From the 18-week mark of my existence, my parents knew I would be a special human. They just didn’t know what degree. In 2008, during my mother’s routine prenatal ultrasound, it was discovered that I would be born with only one kidney. Thankfully my only kidney functions normally at this point in my life, but it has played a strong role and directed me to who I am today. My mother took the doctor seriously when he said “no impact” sports. As a young man standing 6’5”, it has been disappointing to not get to play football, something I wanted to do and spent my childhood idolizing NFL athletes. It was especially hard when my friends played football in the neighborhood and because I never played, I was never chosen. As bad as it felt to be excluded, I didn’t let it get me down, and I shifted my focus as a preteen. I began learning to play golf through a community program called FirstTee. FirstTee taught me the fundamentals of a proper grip, stance, and body pivot. With practice, I became a strong competitor. In High School, I made the golf team and got to experience what being on a team felt like. I set goals for myself and achieved them. I enjoyed the hard work and many hours endured to set me up for success. Golf instilled the values of integrity and accountability - principles that will guide me well into the future. In addition to sports, one of my other passions in life are muscle cars. The raw performance of fast cars designed for acceleration is totally appealing to me. I have a love for many types of cars, but the Ford Mustang remains at the top of my list. The legacy it has left on American made muscle cars is unparallel. My mother has always been a role model in my life from the very beginning. She ingrained in me at an early age the love for others and the importance of fellowship. Unfortunately, this past December she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This has been a hard season for her and our family. Watching her go through chemotherapy and surgery has been hard for me, but through resiliency and determination, she will fight this disease and survive. It was her that told me when I was 4 years old, that I was a good “police officer”. I made sure my friends played by the correct game rules and if someone didn’t, I would call them out, often running back home in tears. I guess she was right because today, as a senior in Highschool, I am set on leaving home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the University level. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a career choice of mine; it’s a commitment to service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community, and gaining trust by upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would all me to continue my education with focus and determination, better preparing myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect. Thanks to the values my mother instilled in me, I pledge to make a positive impact as a peace officer who leads by example and will continue to be generous to both humans and nature. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg

Doug the Doer Attending 8 schools in 12 years, living in an orphanage and foster home, and becoming a teenage parent at the age of 16 are just a few difficulties my stepfather faced during his early life in Louisiana. You might ask where he is today or what is the rest of the story? The answer to this question lies in one word. MILITARY. My stepfather “Doug “to his friends and family, enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1994. He was taught a strict routine, expectations, and conditioned to work hard and give respect. He was given a purpose, obligation and duty, and he proudly served 20 years. He retired with high marks as a Master Sargeant and was a radar and equipment specialist for the E3 jet. Doug is known by his closest of companions as a funny, hardworking, and generous man. We have 4 teenage boys in the home, and I am the second oldest. My mom and Doug like to joke and say that he is the “fixer” and that everybody else are the “breakers.” They are not wrong. It seems like something is always breaking. Guess all the airplane maintenance paid off because Doug can literally fix anything. Recently Doug impressively built my aging grandparents an apartment in our backyard with his own hands. He researched and studied every step of the process except licensed plumbing and HVAC. It took 6 months working after hours and on the weekends to complete the living space. Doug has taught me resiliency through his past stories, military career, and his dedication to our family. I have learned that no matter what I am doing, my life motto, instilled in me by our HS basketball coach and veteran Jessie Brown, helps me overcome every obstacle. Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Along with Doug’s leadership, sports have taught me strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and how to work with a diversified group of peers to accomplish the task at hand. Doug has instilled in me a love for others and the importance of fellowship. The compassion and empathy he shows to his community and workplace will always stay close to my heart. Along with Doug, my mom has always been by my side. She told me when I was 4 years old, that I was a good "police officer". I made sure my friends played by the correct game rules and if someone didn’t, I would call them out, often times running back home in tears. Soon, I plan to move away from home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the University level. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a career choice of mine; it’s a commitment to service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community and gaining trust, and upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education with focus and determination, better preparing myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect and making a positive impact as a peace officer who leads by example. The impression that Doug has left on me will go with me into the future. Thanks to him, I will continue to practice resiliency. I will pledge to keep learning and be generous to both humans and nature.

Raise me up Resilient Have you ever heard of a velvet brick? I was raised by one. A single mom. My mother is soft on the outside and hard on the inside. Outwardly, she is known for her big hugs, compassionate heart, and unwavering love for my brother and me. But on the inside, she is made up of pure determination, respect for authority, high academic standards, and seat belt safety. My mother has spent 2 decades in the medical field working long hours, many holidays, and seeing things that weigh heavy on her heart. My mother is an example of resiliency. She took her job as a single parent seriously. During the Covid lockdown, my brother and I could not attend public school, but my mom had to go to work. At the end of her exhausting and heart-breaking shift, she would spend countless hours helping me with my assignments. During this time, she also taught me how to cook a few things for myself and today my specialty is scrambled eggs. She needed my help in the summer with yardwork, so she taught my brother and I how to mow and edge the lawn. However, her most daring task was teaching me to drive. Surprisingly, she did not suffer any heart attacks in the pilot stages. Things in our life took an unexpected turn a few years ago when our neighbor introduced my mother to a guy named Doug. Doug is a retired Air Force veteran that spent many years working on a jet. I immediately liked the man. He is kind, funny and he is a good “fixer” of many things. Doug and my mother have been married for a year now and, interestingly, we now have 4 teenage boys living under one roof. It was a trying year at times blending 4 teenage personalities together and finding our new normal, but we made it through without many disagreements. My mother instilled in me at an early age a love for others and the importance of fellowship. The compassion and empathy she has shown to her community and workplace will always stay close to my heart. She told me when I was 4 years old, that I was a good police officer. I made sure my friends played by the correct game rules and if someone didn’t, I would call them out, often times running back home in tears. Soon, I plan to move away from home to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at the University level. Being a law enforcement officer is not just a career choice of mine; it’s a commitment to service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community and gaining trust, and upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education with focus and determination, better preparing myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect and making a positive impact as a peace officer who leads by example. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg

Why I Want to Become A Police Officer One moment can change how someone sees the world, and for me, that moment was realizing that the people who protect others do it so quietly, often out of strife they must endure while protecting others. From a young age, doing the right thing was what I cared most about. Not only did I ensure that I always did the right thing, but I also wanted everyone else to do so as well. Although enforcing people to do the right thing is part of law enforcement, it is much deeper than that. I want to become a police officer because I am committed to serving my community, protecting others, and upholding justice with integrity. Oftentimes, when children see police officers, they fear them or admire them. I was one to admire. Since I was a child, I wanted to be a police officer. I wanted everyone to do the right thing, I wanted to protect the ones who needed it, and I always wanted to loan a helping hand to those in need. Growing up, seeing my cousin dressed in his uniform made him seem invincible. Although he wasn’t quite invincible, I saw him as a superhero. I want this occupation not only to make myself proud, but to make a difference and protect the ones that need it. I feel I am called to make a difference, and I believe that it takes place in a law enforcement workplace. Being a police officer isn’t just about making sure everyone does the right thing, but understanding the profession beyond the badge places a crucial role in an officer’s character. A good police officer connects with the community, ethically does their job, and most importantly, communicates well with others. What people think of you doesn’t always matter to you, but it may matter to everyone else. The importance of trust between a police officer and their community is something that couldn’t be broken. Emotional intelligence in this occupation is a must-know skill to do your job effectively. Decision-making under pressure is also something officers do in their everyday lives, and it’s an important part of the job. My goal is to attend the University of Central Oklahoma and major in Criminal Justice. Alongside my degree, I want to explore internship options locally to the college I will be attending. One idea I have is to explore an option of doing an internship with the Edmond police department. This scholarship would not only reduce financial stress, but it would also allow me to focus on academics and prepare for the career ahead of me. Being a police officer is not just a career choice of mine, but it’s a commitment to service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community and gaining trust, and upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education with focus and determination, better preparing myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect and making a positive impact as a police officer who leads by example. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg

Why I Want to Become A Police Officer One moment can change how someone sees the world, and for me, that moment was realizing that the people who protect others do it so quietly, often out of the strife they have to endure while protecting others. From a young age, doing the right thing was what I cared most about. Not only did I ensure that I always did the right thing, but I also wanted everyone else to do so as well. Although enforcing people to do the right thing is part of law enforcement, it is much deeper than that. I want to become a police officer because I am committed to serving my community, protecting others, and upholding justice with integrity. Oftentimes, when children see police officers, they are scared of them or admire them. I was one to admire. Since I was a child, I wanted to be a police officer. I wanted everyone to do the right thing, I wanted to protect the ones who needed it, and I always wanted to loan a helping hand to those in need. Growing up, seeing my cousin dressed in his uniform made him seem invincible. Although he wasn’t quite invincible, I saw him as a superhero. I want this occupation not only to make myself proud, but to make a difference and protect the ones that need it. I feel I am called to make a difference, and I believe that takes place in a law enforcement workplace. Being a police officer isn’t just about making sure everyone does the right thing, but understanding the profession beyond the badge places a crucial role in an officer’s character. A good police officer connects with the community, ethically does their job, and most importantly, communicates well with others. What people think of you doesn’t always matter to you, but it may matter to everyone else. The importance of trust between a police officer and their community is something that couldn’t be broken. Emotional intelligence in this occupation is a must-know skill to do your job effectively. Decision-making under pressure is also something officers do in their everyday lives, and it’s an important part of the job. My goal is to attend the University of Central Oklahoma and major in Criminal Justice. Alongside my degree, I want to explore internship options local to the college I will be attending. One idea I have is exploring an option of doing an internship with the Edmond police department. This scholarship would not only reduce financial stress, but it would also allow me to focus on academics and preparation for the career ahead of me. Being a police officer is not just a career choice of mine, but it’s a commitment to service, integrity, and accountability. I am motivated by the responsibility of protecting others, being active in my community and gaining its trust and upholding the values to keep society safe and just. This scholarship would allow me to continue my education with focus and determination, better preparing myself for the challenges of law enforcement. With the opportunity to pursue this path, I am committed to serving my community with honor and respect, and making a positive impact as a police officer who leads by example. Thank you for your time, Zane Cragg