University of Arkansas at Hope Student Receives Public Safety Scholarship

Alan Laxton, a student at University of Arkansas at Hope in Arkansas, has received a $1,000 scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa and the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute (IPSLEI).

The Richard L. Resurreccion Public Safety Scholarship program provides scholarships exclusively to Phi Theta Kappa members who demonstrate potential for excellence in the public safety field while enrolled in a regionally accredited associate degree public safety program.

Looking for a career with purpose that would sustain him throughout his working life, Laxton decided to enroll in college as a non-traditional student. In addition to being involved with his PTK chapter and his college’s Honors program, he was elected President of the Student Government Association. In his community, he is an instructor for the American Heart Association, and he is currently serving as Assistant Fire Chief at his local volunteer fire department where he is now certified as an EMT.

Laxton credits his licensure as an EMT as the catalyst for him to encourage others on the importance of having knowledge of or being trained to provide life saving techniques in the event of an emergency. After completing his degree in emergency medical services, he aspires to have a career as a flight paramedic.

The Resurreccion Public Safety Scholarship was established by IPSLEI and Phi Theta Kappa in 2012 and named for Dr. Richard L. Resurreccion, Professor Emeritus of the College of Health and Human Services at California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Resurreccion is a member of the IPSLEI Board of Directors and has 47 years of teaching experience in the first responder field at the secondary, two-year college, military, and university levels. Learn more about the scholarship.

IPSLEI brings the concepts of leadership and ethics to the forefront of an individual’s career, rather than waiting until a person is promoted into a supervisory position. This program is based on the belief that one need not be a supervisor or manager to understand leadership principles and contribute to the leadership process.