Brynn Meadows has always been interested in helping others. After searching for ways to make a difference in her community, Meadows found her way through a criminal justice degree and is now in the police academy.

A 2020 graduate of Port Huron High School, Meadows was the recipient of a scholarship from the Sheriff Donnellon Law Enforcement Fund last year. This scholarship proved instrumental in enabling her to complete her degree at Ferris State University.

“The Sherriff Donnellon Law Enforcement scholarship was really important to me,” Meadows shared. “If I didn’t get help to finish my degree at Ferris State University, I wouldn’t have been able to go into the academy. I had some financial problems that I needed help with, and the scholarship from the Community Foundation helped me get to this point with a Criminal Justice degree.”

Recalling her journey toward law enforcement, Meadows reminisced, “My sister and I would always watch Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Then in high school, I had a chance to do hands on police experience. That’s when I knew criminal justice is what I wanted to do.”

As for now, Meadows continues training at the state academy with an eye on her future. The training is rigorous, to say the least. But as demanding as it has been, it has also served its purpose in preparing her for a career in law enforcement. With each passing day, Meadows can feel she is getting closer to realizing her dream.

“My attitude has changed,” Meadows said. “I had to work on my attitude and be able to communicate effectively. The academy really tests your limits. It pushes you beyond your expectations. They teach us that if you think you can, you will. If you think you can’t, you are right.”

Meadows will be at the state academy for a total of 20 weeks. After graduating in June, she will go into field training, which will span another 17 weeks. After that, she will be placed on probation for a year and a half before she will have enough experience to complete her training.

“If you can help others, it can make a big difference to someone in the community. Me being a person of color makes a big difference. Some look at officers like they are racist or show discrimination. If I can make a difference, it pushes things in the right direction.”

“I can see myself becoming a trooper, working up to being a detective sergeant one day, and being able to go undercover. I want to be able to serve justice for people who don’t have a voice.

The Sheriff Donnellon Law Enforcement Fund extends its support to individuals attending the police academy or college students majoring in criminal justice with the intention of pursuing careers in law enforcement. Additionally, the fund can support special programs and projects for current, future, or former members of local law enforcement.

This fund was established in recognition of the substantial support former Sheriff Donnellon received from community members over the years. Upon his retirement, the remaining funds in his re-election account were allocated to establish a long-term annual support system for local law enforcement and future officers.

Other scholarship opportunities provided by the Community Foundation are currently open for students of all ages to apply until March 31st. Interested students can find more information and apply for scholarships at https://stclairfoundation.org/scholarships.