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Cpl. Stephen Ballard memorial scholarship fund will support criminal justice student

A new scholarship fund at the Delaware Community Foundation will honor the memory of Cpl Stephen Ballard, a Delaware State Trooper killed in the line of duty this past April.

A new scholarship fund at the Delaware Community Foundation will honor the memory of Corporal Stephen Ballard, a Delaware State Trooper who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year.

Corporal Ballard was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle at a Wawa in Bear on April 26.

The Delaware Community Foundation President and CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay says the scholarship fund will honor Ballard’s life and service.

 

"The inspiration for this scholarship came from an anonymous donor we work with who was moved by Cpl. Ballard's story and wanted to do something to honor the Corporal," said Comstock-Gay. "And that's the beauty of the kind of work we do."

 

“We had never met Cpl. Stephen Ballard, but learned of his compassionate and noble nature after his passing. It is our sincere hope that others who are following his path may be guided by a similar passion to unify and protect communities," said the anonymous donors in a statement. "This scholarship is offered to encourage and support individuals who strive to continue lighting the path toward strong but compassionate justice such as that which Cpl. Ballard embodied."

 

The anonymous donors' $100,000 gift will create an endowed fund for the scholarship - which will provide $5,000 each year to a junior or senior majoring in criminal justice at Delaware State University.

That’s the same program Cpl. Ballard graduated from in 2007.

 

A Delaware Community Foundation committee will select the scholarship recipient each year, giving preference to applicants with financial need and  planning to work in Delaware law enforcement after graduation.

 

"We manage lots of scholarships, with lots of different specific interests, and this is an exciting new one to add to the group," said Comstock-Gay.

 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.
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