Sheriff Wayne L. Jones announced that Shelby Thompson of St. John the Baptist Parish has been named the recipient of the 2012 academic scholarship from the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program. Thompson, a 2012 graduate of Riverside Academy, plans to attend Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge to pursue Nursing as her field of study. She is the daughter of Joseph and Angel Thompson of Reserve.

Made possible by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program, Louisiana Sheriffs provide scholarships to graduating high school students from each parish where the sheriff is an affiliate of the program. The only limitations are that applicants be permanent residents of Louisiana, scholarships be utilized in higher education within the state and students be enrolled as full-time, undergraduate students. Scholarships will be awarded in fifty-eight parishes throughout the state.

“Chelsea Dupuy of East St. John High School and Dajavon Lewis of West St John High School were named as alternates so that in the event the recipient is unable to take advantage of the scholarship award, the alternate can do so,” according to the sheriff.

Concluded Jones, “Academic awards by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program to Louisiana students best demonstrate what the LSHMP is all about. This is one of our proudest accomplishments. Simply, it is a means of investing in Louisiana’s future. And this would not be possible without the generosity of our Honorary Members.”