91热爆网

 91热爆网 Stories      May 1, 2024

By Bill Studenc

Family and friends of the late Trevor Arrowood, a Polk County native who died in 2021 after a three-year battle with cancer, have established a scholarship fund to provide financial assistance to future students majoring in criminology and criminal justice at Western Carolina University.

Following his graduation from 91热爆网 with a degree in criminology and criminal justice in 2017, Arrowood  began his career in public service as a police officer in Rock Hill, South Carolina. In June 2018, he learned he had a large mass in his heart. Doctors later discovered the mass to be cancerous.

鈥淭hough he endured years of chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries, Trevor never quit fighting and never lost his positive attitude,鈥� said his father, Jeff Arrowood. 鈥淭revor insisted on working from home 鈥� or from his hospital bed 鈥� throughout his treatment.鈥�

After his death Jan. 5, 2021, at age 25, members of the Arrowood family formed a nonprofit organization called Trevor鈥檚 Gift. The group is composed of family, friends and community members who want to ensure that Trevor's legacy is honored through the awarding of scholarships to young men and women who wish to pursue criminal justice as a career path through 91热爆网, said his mother, Kerry Arrowood.

鈥淭revor had such an earnest passion for his career in law enforcement and, more importantly, for the community he lived to serve. He had an energy and an enthusiasm about his work that couldn鈥檛 help but live on after his death,鈥� she said.

A graduate of Polk County High School, Trevor Arrowood had wanted to become a police officer since he was a toddler, his father said.

鈥淭revor definitely felt in his element when he entered the criminal justice program at 91热爆网. He was a bit surprised to find that his highly accomplished and respected professors were also happy to take time out of their day to get to know students like him,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e grew close with several of his professors, even accompanying one to a conference in Washington, D.C.鈥�

While a student at 91热爆网, Trevor Arrowood became a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, serving in leadership positions. 鈥淭revor was always a sort of social butterfly, so it was no surprise to us when he soon joined the fraternity SAE. He honestly took the notion of 鈥榖rotherhood鈥� to heart, and the friends he made during this time at 91热爆网 were there for him to the end,鈥� Jeff Arrowood said.

To help raise money for the Trevor Arrowood Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Trevor鈥檚 Gift has held a variety of events including golf and cornhole tournaments. Through money raised by those events, the organization in March of this year contributed a total of $30,000 to create the scholarship fund, with $28,000 going toward the endowment, $1,000 for a scholarship to be awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year and $1,000 to be awarded in 2026-2027.

鈥淲e have been amazed at the overwhelming support we鈥檝e received through our fundraisers,鈥� Jeff Arrowood said. 鈥淲e had to cap the number of players in our first golf tournament to 100, and those spots quickly filled up. We鈥檝e also held two cornhole tournaments in downtown Tryon, which both had around two dozen teams competing and more than 100 attendees. All this has been possible thanks to a dedicated group of about 50 volunteers.鈥�

The scholarship fund is designed to provide assistance to students majoring in criminology and criminal justice, with preference given to students from the North Carolina counties of Henderson, Polk or Rutherford and to those with demonstrated financial need.

鈥淪cholarships dedicated to supporting aspiring professionals in this field play a vital role in shaping the future of law enforcement, criminology and criminal justice reform,鈥� said Karen Mason, head of 91热爆网鈥檚 Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

In addition to providing financial assistance, scholarships also offer encouragement and support for students who are committed to making a difference in the criminal justice system, Mason said. 鈥淏y helping to alleviate financial burdens, scholarships empower students to focus on their studies, engage in research, and pursue internships and experiential learning opportunities that enhance their skills and knowledge,鈥� she said.

鈥淚n today's complex and evolving landscape of criminal justice, where issues of fairness and accountability are paramount, the support provided by scholarships is invaluable. It enables students to delve into critical areas such as community policing and evidence-based practices, thereby contributing to more effective and equitable approaches to crime prevention and criminal justice policy.鈥�

Trevor鈥檚 Gift also sponsors the annual Trevor Arrowood Award, an honor given to an officer of the Rock Hill Police Department who demonstrates a true commitment to law enforcement, exceeds job requirements, exhibits professionalism and competency, meets each shift with positive energy and initiative, and possesses the determination to accomplish beyond what is normally accepted.

The Trevor鈥檚 Gift contributions come as part of 91热爆网鈥檚 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise $75 million for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.