{"id":5975,"date":"2025-09-08T17:15:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T17:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.iupa.org\/?p=5975"},"modified":"2025-09-08T17:22:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T17:22:16","slug":"5975","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/2025\/09\/08\/5975\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholars"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1430px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-custom_color_1);--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:31;line-height:var(--awb-typography1-line-height);\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The International Union of Police Associations selected four outstanding students as our 2025 Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholars!<\/h2><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-bottom:50px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><h4>2025 Recipients:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4>Megan Barker of Woodinville, Washington<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4>Katherine Davis of Bartlett, Tennessee<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4>Emerson Toole of Vero Beach, Florida<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4>James Watts, III of Memphis, Tennessee<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-bottom:50px;width:100%;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p>Ms. Emerson Toole is the daughter of Mr. Patrick Toole, a member of Vero Beach Police Officers Association, I.U.P.A. Local #6019. Toole is attending Florida International University where she is studying Criminal Justice and Disaster Management, preparing for a career in Federal Law Enforcement. On this auspicious honor, Ms. Toole stated, \u201cThank you all so very much. I&#8217;m so very grateful for this blessing once more.\u201d Ms. Toole is being awarded the scholarship for the third year in a row!<\/p>\n<p>In her application essay, Ms. Toole stated, \u201cMy parents absolutely love their careers. Both have always headed to work with a smile and are respected, appreciated, and important members of our community who make a difference in our town. I hope to emulate that for my career as an agent in a federal law enforcement agency.\u201d She continued, \u201cI hope to serve my community as my parents do. I believe that education is priceless, and ongoing, and the combination of life experiences and book learning will make me the best agent that I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Megan Barker is the daughter of Mr. Matthew Barker, a member of Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs Law Enforcement Associates, I.U.P.A. Local #27. Barker is attending University of Washington where she is studying to become a lawyer.<\/p>\n<p>On this, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs Law Enforcement Associates, I.U.P.A. Local #27 President Chris Tracy stated, \u201cMs. Megan Barker is an exceptional young lady. She has graduated from Woodinville High School with a 3.9 GPA, three years of American Sign Language coursework, and plans to study at University of Washington to become a lawyer. She is the child of two public servants who aspires to spend her life in public service as they have. On behalf of all of Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs Law Enforcement Associates, I.U.P.A. Local #27; I am pleased and proud of her accomplishment of being named an Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholar. I know she has a bright future ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Katherine Davis is the daughter of Mr. Joshua Davis, a member of Memphis Police Association, I.U.P.A. Local #318. Davis is attending Union University where she is studying forensics to work for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.<\/p>\n<p>On this, Memphis Police Association, I.U.P.A. Local #318 President Matt Cunningham stated, \u201cMs. Katherine \u2018Katie\u2019 Davis toured the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation\u2019s crime laboratories last summer, finding her future career there. This impressive young woman excelled in her studies in high school where she has been described by her teacher as a student who goes above and beyond consistently, with exceptional work ethic and character. I am confident that she will apply herself to her studies at Union University equally successfully and that they will serve her well in her future work at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr. James Watts, III is the son of Mr. James Watts, II, a member of Memphis Police Association, I.U.P.A. Local #318. Watts is attending the University of Central Arkansas where he is studying cybersecurity for a future career as a Cybercrime Investigator.<\/p>\n<p>On this, Memphis Police Association, I.U.P.A. Local #318 President Matt Cunningham stated, \u201cMr. James Edward Watts, III is an extremely bright young man who excelled in his studies at First Assembly Christian School, in football and track and field, and now at University of Central Arkansas, where he will dedicate himself to the study of Cybersecurity so that he can track and investigate cybercriminals involved in hacking, fraud, identity theft, and other online crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholarship was established in 1999 by Sam A. Cabral, I.U.P.A.\u2019s International President, to honor Edward J. Kiernan, a New York City Police Officer and former I.U.P.A. President, in recognition of Eddie\u2019s long commitment to the improvement of law enforcement officers\u2019 and their families\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n<p>In order to qualify for a Kiernan scholarship, an applicant\u2019s parent or guardian must be a member of an affiliate of the I.U.P.A.\u00a0 The applicant must also be accepted at an accredited university or college in a course of study in law enforcement, labor relations, or a related field.\u00a0\u00a0 He or she must submit a current transcript as well as their SAT\/ACT scores and a letter of recommendation by an official from the applicant\u2019s school.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1430px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:8%;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element\" style=\"text-align:center;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1624\" title=\"Cunningham Giving Scholarships to Davis and Watts\" src=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts.jpg\" alt class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-5976\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272000%27%20height%3D%271624%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202000%201624%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272000%27%20height%3D%271624%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts-200x162.jpg 200w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts-400x325.jpg 400w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts-600x487.jpg 600w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts-800x650.jpg 800w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts-1200x974.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Cunningham-Giving-Scholarships-to-Davis-and-Watts.jpg 2000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:8%;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element\" style=\"text-align:center;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1500\" title=\"Megan-Barker-Photo\" src=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Megan-Barker-Photo.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Megan-Barker-Photo.jpg\" alt class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-5977\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%271500%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%201500%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%271500%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Megan-Barker-Photo-200x250.jpg 200w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Megan-Barker-Photo-400x500.jpg 400w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Megan-Barker-Photo-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Megan-Barker-Photo-800x1000.jpg 800w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Megan-Barker-Photo.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:8%;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element\" style=\"text-align:center;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-3 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1500\" title=\"Emerson Toole Headshot 8 2024\" src=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Emerson-Toole-Headshot-8-2024.jpeg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Emerson-Toole-Headshot-8-2024.jpeg\" alt class=\"lazyload img-responsive wp-image-5978\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%271500%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201200%201500%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271200%27%20height%3D%271500%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Emerson-Toole-Headshot-8-2024-200x250.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Emerson-Toole-Headshot-8-2024-400x500.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Emerson-Toole-Headshot-8-2024-600x750.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Emerson-Toole-Headshot-8-2024-800x1000.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/iupa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Emerson-Toole-Headshot-8-2024.jpeg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5976,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iupa-briefing-room"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5975"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5981,"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5975\/revisions\/5981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iupa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}