The Florida Police Chiefs Association, through their Foundation, offers $1,000 scholarships each year to the top Police Explorers in Florida who have excelled academically and who have served their post and community with exceptional service. The scholarships are grants to be used for tuition and books in their academic endeavors at a school of their choice. To date, the foundation has awarded 25 scholarships. This year, four outstanding individuals (pictured below) were selected at the 48th Annual Summer Conference in Ft. Myers to receive scholarships.

Boca Raton Police Department

Richard Guberman, is a Deputy Chief in Explorer

Post 2314 sponsored by the Boca Raton Police Department. He has held the positions of sergeant, lieutenant and captain of the Explorer Post and has been actively involved with law enforcement for more than four years.

He plans to attend Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida and will work towards a degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology.

   

   

   

   

   

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Clearwater Police Department

Christopher Corneillus, is a Lieutenant in Explorer Post 31 sponsored by the Clearwater Police Department. He joined the Explorer Post in 1996, has held the positions of corporal and sergeant and was a recipient of the 1999 Achievement Award in March of this year. Christopher has also been actively involved in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

He plans to attend St. Petersburg Junior College in St. Petersburg, Florida, and will work towards a degree in criminology.

   

   

   

   

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Cooper City Police Department

Diego C. Mello, is a Captain in Explorer Post 471 sponsored by the Cooper City Police Department. He has been a member of his post for four years. He maintained a 4.0 GPA in high school and is in the top 16% of his class. Last June he received the State of Florida Explorer of the Year and won the overall Pistol Match Winner and First Place Expert Pistol Award at the State Competition.

He plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and will work towards a degree in electrical engineering.

   

   

   

   

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Parkland Police Department

Kelsey Weber, is a Lieutenant in Explorer Post 222 sponsored by the Parkland Police Department. She was elected President of the Explorers Association last April.

An honor student, Ms. Weber is currently enrolled as an early admissions student at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. She will work towards a degree in biochemistry and plans to be a forensic chemist and aspires to work for the FBI.