Deputy Cruz Thomas Scholarship Awarded

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

One Franklin County High School senior will have a little extra financial help when she enters college in the Fall, courtesy of the Lavonia Police Department.

Tuesday night, Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle presented a $5,000 scholarship to Rebecca Herring.

She is the recipient of the Steven LaCruz Thomas Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship was put together by the Lavonia Police Department in memory of Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Cruz Thomas, who was killed in May of last year on Interstate 85 while in pursuit of a traffic violator.

Carlisle called the scholarship presentation an honor.

He said one, they were able to both honor a fallen law enforcement officer and also help another person who is deserving at the same time.

Herring is an honor student at Franklin County High School and will be attending Young Harris College in the Fall.

Carlisle said that Herring was most deserving, most humble, and most honored to receive the scholarship.

About 10 applications were considered for the scholarship by an unnamed selection committee.

According to Carlisle, they were able to narrow down the winner to among three finalists, but he said the final decision was a difficult one.

Carlisle said the selection committee struggled tremendously to come up with a winner because of the quality of the applicants, adding that is a a testament to the staff and students at Franklin County High School.

Carlisle said at this time, he and the Lavonia Police Department have no plans to make the scholarship an annual award.