Lavonia Police Starting Scholarship in Memory of Sheriff Thomas’ Son

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The Lavonia Police Department is instituting a new scholarship program for Franklin County High School students looking to further their educations.

Recently, Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle announced the formation of the Deputy Steven LaCruz Thomas Memorial Scholarship.

Deputy Thomas, the son of Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas, was killed in a wreck on Interstate 85 last May while in pursuit of a traffic violator.

Carlisle said his department wanted to do something that would keep Deputy Thomas’ memory alive.

“I talked to Steve (Thomas) at length about this and he knows we’re starting this effort. We wanted to do something that would be able to take Cruz’ name and help someone else further their education beyond high school,” Carlisle said.

Currently, the Lavonia Police Department is partnering with Epic Computers, a local computer software business, to raise money for the scholarship.

Carlisle said interested students can pick up an application for the scholarship at Franklin County High School.

“Individuals that are interested in applying for the scholarship can pick up the application package at the counselor’s office, fill it out and return it to the counselor’s office,” he said. “All the requirements are detailed in that package.”

According to Carlisle, the scholarship is not just for students who are interested in a career in law enforcement, but is a general scholarship for all students in all career paths, including technical school.

Carlisle said they hope to award their first scholarship in the Spring.