Lake County Sheriff announces state group's $500 scholarship

Sheriff Mark Curran has announced the Illinois Sheriff's Association will be awarding a $500 college scholarship to a Lake County student seeking to pursue higher education during the 2018-19 academic year. Scholarship funds are to be applied to tuition, books and fees only and must be used during the regular school year. Funds cannot be used for housing or any other incurred expenses. The student must be enrolled full-time at a certified institution of higher learning within the state of Illinois.

Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be permanent Illinois residents.

• The scholarship must be utilized at an institution of higher learning within Illinois.

• Students must be enrolled as full-time students during the 2018-19 school year (excluding summer session)

Guidelines include submission of a 350-word essay. This year's essay question focuses on law enforcement and community relations. The question is: "How is law enforcement perceived in your area? What, in your opinion, is the best way to improve law enforcement relations within your community?"

Applications are now available at the Lake County sheriff's office or on the sheriff's website. Students must complete the application; answer the essay question and return all documentation to the Lake County sheriff's office; 25 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan; applications must be postmarked by March 15.