2019 Officer White Scholarship awarded to Katharine Marshall
The 2019 Officer David White Scholarship recently was awarded to Katharine Marshall, daughter of Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall.
The recognition took place during the Naperville Park District board of commissioners meeting June 27 at the South Maintenance Facility, 3415 Book Road.
Naperville Park Police Chief Carl Schnibben and Officer David White attended the recognition while Detective Jamie Goschey presented the award.
Detective Goschey spoke as a former Officer White Scholarship recipient who is currently working in public service as a detective and juvenile officer for the Batavia Police Department.
The $2,000 scholarship honors the compassionate public service demonstrated by Naperville Park Police Officer David White, whose actions helped save a young man's life in 2006.
The scholarship is open to an individual age 25 and under who either is a son or daughter of an active duty Naperville police officer, park police officer, or firefighter or someone who is serving in one of these roles themselves. Naperville Police Explorers and Naperville Fire Explorers also are eligible.
The scholarship is funded by an anonymous donor, who has provided $2,000 annually for the scholarship since 2007. In the donor's words, "The purpose of the scholarship is to inspire our next generation of public servants to care enough to exert the extra effort, to take a second look."
A panel of seven judges selected Katharine Marshall as the 2019 scholarship recipient by evaluating the scholarship applications that were submitted.
The scholarship panel included the following community leaders:
• Mike Briggs, President and CEO, Little Friends;
• Bobby Carlsen, Commissioner, Naperville Park District;
• Kamala Martinez, President and CEO, KidsMatter;
• Mark Puknaitis, Fire Chief, Naperville Fire Department;
• Nancy Quigley, Citizens Appreciate Public Safety;
• Bob Ross, Chief Operating Officer, Naperville Unit District 203;
• Carl Schnibben, Park Police Chief, Naperville Park District.
Katharine was selected for her record of service to others and her desire to prepare for a career in nursing that will continue her focus on brightening the lives of those who are hurting.
Detective Goschey thanked the donors of the scholarship for their generosity and vision to support higher education and the families of our local first responders. She also honored the late Mayor Emeritus George Pradel, who served on the scholarship review panel for 12 years and donated funds to expand the scholarship.