School Resources Officers award four $1,000 college scholarships

School Resources Officers contributed from their own pockets and fund-raisers to award four $1,000 college scholarships to Rutherford County seniors Wednesday.

SRO Jason Urban, who coordinates the scholarships, said a panel of SROs chose the winners based on their grade point average, ACT score, extra-curricular activities, a written essay on “Ways I Would Improve School Safety” and two letters of recommendation.

“These scholarships support Rutherford County students,” Urban said.

This is the 16th year SROs have donated to fund scholarships.

Recipients are Alyssa Ward of Central Magnet, Christina Saulsberry of Siegel High School, Sandy Girgis of La Vergne High School and Malayna Allen of Riverdale High School.

Alyssa earned a 4.0 grade point average at Central and a 34 on the ACT. She plays varsity softball. She is a member of the National Honors Society, National English Honors Society and National Spanish Honors Society. She plans to attend Union University.

Christina was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” at Siegel. She is a member of the National Honors Society, Beta Club, Student Council and the First Baptist Church Youth Choir. She will attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Sandy earned a 4.0 grade point average at La Vergne High School. She won a state writing competition in her junior year. She was vice president of the Student Council, a leader in Ultimate Frisbee and a volunteer at La Vergne Public Library. She will attend Lipscomb University.

Malayna is a captain for Riverdale’s soccer team. She is vice president of philanthropy for Delta Beta Sigma, a fund-raiser for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and a volunteer coach for the special needs soccer program. She plans to attend the University of Tennessee –Chattanooga.