06/15/2020
WE CAN CHANGE THE NARRATIVE!!!
In 2019, the Law Enforcement Academy Prep (LEAP) program completed; our first LTC Deitrich M. Jordan Scholarship and Leadership Gala, several college visits (including Morehouse and Spelman Colleges), tours of several military installations and institutions- to include the US Naval Academy, the United States Secret Service, the North Carolina State Troopers Headquarters and Training Academy, Cumberland County Sheriffs Office, Fayetteville Police Department and both the North Carolina and the United States Supreme Court, just to name a few. All of this in an effort to; (1) Build Better Citizens, (2) Bridge the gap between the justice system and our community, (3) improve career opportunities and selection rates between agencies and Cadets who desire careers in the Justice System; and (4) partner with educational institutions exposing our youth to opportunities they may not have known was available to them under normal circumstances. In Oct 2019, we gained inroads with both Fayetteville and Spring Lake Fire Departments, access to a plethora of information regarding scholarship opportunities from Rusher Enterprises and a seminar from the Director of Dress for Success to be used at the 2020.
The year 2020, the year of clear vision and clarity, introduced us to COVID-19 which has touched us all in some form of fashion. Words not new to our everyday language have taken on a entirely different meaning over the last 180 days. Terms such as self-isolation, quarantine, vectors and social distancing, are now the norm. In this country’s efforts to flatten the curve and stop the loss of life of our fellow citizens, normal operations and business as usual in the country has all but ceased to exist. The LEAP organization is no different.
With the assistance of our supporters from across the region, to include; members of the Fayetteville City Council, Fayetteville and Spring Lake Police Departments, Cumberland County Sheriffs, Cumberland County Courts and success of our gala last year, this years event was expanded to recognize both my Friends and their contributions to the community of Lieutenant Colonel Deitrich Jordan and Mrs Dawn Davis Calhoun. Of course, we had to cancel our event due to COVID-19.
Ultimately, our LEAP gala gives us an opportunity to recognize our Young Men and Women, the scholar, athlete, leaders of the Class of 2020 and provide scholarship opportunities to assist them in their future endeavors.
Our awardees are recognized with the following monetary scholarships and become permanent mentors of our supporters;
Let’s recognize our last years recipients and what they are doing now.
1. LTC Deitrich Jordan Friendship and Leadership Award
2. Citizenship- Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jenssen
3. Scholarship- Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins
4. Perseverance- Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright
5. Uplift- MG (R) Rodney Anderson
6. Aspiration on Law and Justice- Judge Toni King
7. Recognition of other Senior Students in the program
This years recipients are;
1. LTC Deitrich Jordan Leadership and Friendship Award
Jordan Coney- Early College Graduate- Morehouse College
2. Mrs. Dawn Davis Calhoun Fortitude and Friendship Award
Jasmine Giacomucci- North Carolina A&T
3. The Rev Dr Reggie and Dr Roxie Wells Lifetime Achievement Award- Tyler Smith
4. Aspiration on Law and Justice- Judge Toni King- DaQuan McLaughlin
5. Citizenship- Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jenssen
Mekayla Lumpkin- Senior Ramsey Highschool, Birmingham Al
6. Scholarship- Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins
Daquan McLaughlin
7. Perseverance- Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright
Tyrell Di**le
8. Uplift- MG (R) Rodney Anderson
Jermaine McCall
Our Zoom call with awardees is coming soon. Until then let’s congratulate each of Cadets on a job well done!!!
