Published: April 21, 2008 10:10 am         

Student receives scholarship from sheriffs' organization

By Lacie Morrison
lmorrison@mineralwellsindex.com

PALO PINTO – A former Mineral Wells High School graduate was recently awarded two state scholarships from law enforcement agencies.

Lacey Simonton, daughter of Scott and Kelly Simonton, received a $500 scholarship Monday from the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. The 20-year-old criminal justice major is a 2006 graduate of MWHS and is a junior at the University of North Texas.

“I was very excited and proud,” she said, about winning the scholarship. Simonton explained that she learned about the scholarship from her dad. After researching it, she applied in February.

Sherlynn Kelley, with the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, said they’ve issued 1,361 scholarships since the scholarship program began more than 25 years ago. She said the organization awarded 42 scholarships this semester.

“Everyone who applied got a scholarship,” she said. According to the scholarship instructions, recipients are allowed to receive two scholarships during their academic career. Other stipulations for a number of the scholarships is a parent or grandparent who is either a sheriff, former sheriff or employed by a sheriff’s office. Simonton’s father is a deputy with the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Department.

Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer presented Simonton with the check and a certificate. He remarked that this was the first time since he took office that someone locally even applied.

“I’m glad the scholarship money is coming back to our county,” he remarked.

Simonton also received a $500 scholarship from the Texas Jail Association. She said the scholarships will go towards her fall semester.

As a criminal justice major, she said she wants to go into “corrections, probably probation.”