The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t hampered interest in a fundraiser that preserves the legacy of a New Kensington police officer who was killed in the line of duty.
The third Officer Brian Shaw Memorial Scholarship Ride and Event, set for Aug. 16, is sold out, with ride slots still open for motorcycles.
The ride benefits a scholarship fund that reimburses graduates from the Allegheny County Police Training Academy. Shaw, a New Kensington police officer, was shot and killed after a traffic stop and foot chase in 2017.
On Thursday, Steve Edwards, 24, of Lower Burrell was awarded the $6,000 Shaw scholarship during graduation ceremonies at the Allegheny County Police Academy in North Park.
“It’s more important than ever to graduate the kind of police officers like Brian who are dedicated to the profession and serving the community at large,” said Leslie Zellers of Allegheny Township, secretary of the scholarship fund.
As part of the application process, students have to answer how they will embody Shaw’s treasured qualities of humility, integrity, dedication and compassion in their police work.
“It’s a huge honor, and I’m extremely humble to be considered, let alone win it,” Edwards said. “The other people who applied are classmates and were incredible applicants as well,” he said.
Edwards graduated last year with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, in criminology and justice administration.
This year’s major fundraiser for future memorial scholarships is still on, although with a limit of 250 donors for the full-day event including the motorcycle ride, dinner and entertainment. Because of covid-19 restrictions on groups at facilities, only about one-third of potential donors will be able to attend the post-ride festivities. Those tickets are sold out, Zellers said.
However, donors still can ride in the event for $10 the day of the ride, meeting at Acmetonia Elementary School, 300 Pearl Ave. in Harmar, starting at 8:30 a.m. for registration.
“We are so fortunate to have a partner in the Shrine Center that provides an outside venue to have this very important fundraising event while still operating under covid-19 restrictions,” Zellers said.
Donors who can’t participate in the event can mail contributions to the Brian Shaw Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2052, Lower Burrell, PA 15068, or by PayPal via the scholarship’s website, officerbrianshawmemorialscholarshipfund.org.
