Explorer Rebecca N. Long was selected for the 2016 Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) Scholarship Award for Law Enforcement Explorers. Explorer Long is a member of Post 2906 sponsored by the Phoenix (AZ) Police Department. Explorer Long has been a Law Enforcement Explorer for two years and is a 2015 graduate of Sandra Day O’Conner High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, served as Team Captain for the Track and Field Team as well as Badminton Team, and was involved with other extracurricular activities. She currently attends Grand Canyon University where she maintains a 3.5 GPA and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Explorer Long serves as the Captain of her Post and was honored as the 2015 Explorer of the Year. Explorer Long is a second-degree black belt in Karate and, in addition to her participation in Law Enforcement Exploring and numerous school activities, she volunteers to teach special needs children karate and various types of exercise. She also volunteers with the One Step Beyond Program to teach special needs adults life skills and karate. Explorer Long has attained several other significant achievements and has been the recipient of many other recognitions and awards. Upon completing college, Explorer Long will pursue a career in law enforcement.
HAPCOA, established in 1973, is the oldest and largest association in the U.S. of Hispanic American command officers from law enforcement and criminal justice agencies at the municipal, county, state and federal levels. Through HAPCOA, chiefs of police, sheriffs and police superintendents from around the country are committed to meeting the challenges of selecting, promoting and retaining Hispanic American men and women in law enforcement positions within the criminal justice system. HAPCOA members work diligently to address the concerns of their respective communities and improve community relations through the implementation of innovative, state-of-the-art training and educational programs.
The HAPCOA Scholarship Award for Law Enforcement Explorers was established to recognize Law Enforcement Explorers of Hispanic ancestry who have shown potential to become future leaders in the law enforcement and criminal justice profession. The award is granted on the basis of grade point average, participation in extracurricular activities, leadership experience, awards/recognitions, letters of recommendations, and an essay on the topic of “Why I want to pursue a career in the law enforcement or criminal justice profession.”
The award recipient receives an engraved award plaque and a monetary honorarium in the amount of $1,000 to be utilized for tuition, books, and related expense. Congratulations to Explorer Long on her selection for this prestigious award.