The Deputy Todd Michael Widman Memorial Scholarship Committee met and selected two scholarship recipients on 5-12-2020. One deserving senior from Hiawatha and one from Horton high schools were chosen to receive a one-time $2500.00 Scholarship. Winners will be announced next week after the award presentations have been made by their respective schools.
According to Sheriff John Merchant, March 1st of this year was the 20th anniversary of when Brown County Deputy Todd Michael Widman gave his life in the line of duty. In honor of his sacrifice, we had challenge coins made that were available to the public with 100% of the proceeds going towards the Deputy Todd Michael Widman Memorial Scholarship.
We ended up rounding up the scholarship award to $2500. With money we had left in the Offender Registry account, we were able to offer an additional $2,500 scholarship in memory of Todd. Horton and Hiawatha High School students turned in approximately 17 scholarship applications and we were honored to have Retired Sheriff Jim Wolney and Horton Police Chief John Calhoon serve as the scholarship committee. Based on the quality of applicants, Wolney and Calhoon both commented on how difficult it was to select one winner from each school.
Sheriff Merchant said, “I appreciate the hard work and dedication our committee put into this process. It was an honor to have them serve as our inaugural scholarship committee in memory of Todd.”
— Brown County Sheriff John Merchant is pleased to announce the six deserving 2020 Brown County Sheriff Memorial Scholarship winners.
Horton high school seniors, Grady Douglas Miller $1,000.00, Kyle Albert Hammersmith $500.00, Ally Marie Bottom $500.00. Hiawatha high school seniors, Nicole Mackey $1,000.00, Annaliese Elizabeth Jeschke $500.00, Katelyn Lay $500.00.
This scholarship is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The 6 winners were presented with a Brown County Sheriff challenge coin, a certificate and check. This was the
final year for the Brown County Sheriff Memorial Scholarship. In the future we plan to roll the Brown County Sheriff Memorial Scholarship in to the Deputy Todd Michael Widman Memorial Scholarship. Sheriff Merchant said, “We are so proud to provide these scholarships to our county High School seniors and wish them only the best for their futures.”
Photo from L-R (Front) Retired Brown County Sheriff Jim Wolney, Sheriff John Merchant and Horton Police Chief John Calhoon.
