Sheriff Bill Elder announced today that the County Sheriffs of Colorado, Inc. (CSOC), the State Sheriffs Association, will award a $500 scholarship to a deserving El Paso County student this spring. CSOC established the scholarship program in 1978. Since then, this effort has continued as a meaningful expression of each sheriff's confidence in and respect for education and training. CSOC considers this an investment in the future and believes that our membership is helping to provide deserving students with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to society.

Scholarship announcements have been mailed to all high school offices in the eligible counties and to all Colorado higher education institutions. Applications are available online at www.csoc.org, or at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, located at 27 East Vermijo Avenue.

Sheriff Elder explained this is the 41st year the County Sheriffs of Colorado has made such scholarships available.  A scholarship will be awarded in more than thirty Colorado counties this year. Applications will be reviewed by a local citizens committee appointed by Sheriff Elder, and a selection will be made on the basis of criteria established by CSOC. This criterion includes leadership, merit, character, community involvement and career purpose.

Any legal permanent resident of El Paso County enrolled in, or applying to, a vocational training program or institution of higher learning in the State of Colorado as a full or part-time student is eligible to apply. There are no restrictions as to the course of study or training which may be pursued, and no restrictions are placed upon applications by reason of race, creed, age, sex or national origin.

The deadline for all applications is Friday, March 11.  For more information, contact your local high school, college, Sheriff Elder's Executive Assistant Andrea Sloniker at 719-520-7204 or County Sheriffs of Colorado at www.csoc.org.