Texas State Troopers Association expands scholarship program to recognize outstanding applicants

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(Round Rock, TX) – The Texas State Troopers Association (TSTA) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Scholarship Program. While the organization originally planned to award ten scholarships, the overwhelming number of highly qualified applicants prompted the TSTA board to expand the program. 

This year, 25 students will each receive a $500 scholarship to support their higher education goals.

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“We were genuinely inspired by the caliber of the applications we received this year,” said Rohnnie Shaw, Executive Director of TSTA. “These young people aren’t just excellent students—they are leaders, volunteers, and role models in their communities. We felt it was important to go beyond our original plan and reward as many deserving applicants as possible.”

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The TSTA Scholarship Program is open to students sponsored by TSTA members who are entering or currently enrolled in an accredited college. The award is funded by the membership dues and donations sent to TSTA and helps support the educational dreams of families in the DPS community.

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2025 TSTA Scholarship Recipients:

• Anna Kinslow
• Maddi Bearden
• Travis Matthews
• Addisen Campbell
• Skylar Germany
• Katelyn Jones
• Riley Vicknair
• Zachary Zalman
• Corbin Crenwelge
• Aidan Barnhill
• Grant Crook
• Tyler Bowen
• Reyanna Aguirre
• Audrey Weatherby
• Sarah Keesecker
• Lea Weller
• Christopher McCarty, Jr.
• Makynna Meeks
• Kendall Norman
• Bryce Fishbeck
• Mason Fishbeck
• Samantha Chavez
• Lainey Johnson
• Savannah Spurgeon
• Abrianna Guzman
  

TSTA congratulates each of these outstanding recipients and wishes them continued success in their academic and professional journeys.

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Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

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Delivered via electronic mail

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Subj: Adding a 13th Check or Cost-of-Living Adjustment to the Special Session Call

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Dear Governor Abbott:

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On behalf of the Texas State Troopers Association and the many men and women who have proudly served in the Department of Public Safety, I want to begin by thanking you for your steadfast leadership and unwavering support of law enforcement across our great state. Your commitment to law and order on the border, public safety funding, fighting trafficking and crime, and equipping our officers with the tools they need has made Texas a national model.

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As the Legislature enters a special session, we respectfully urge you to add a 13th check or cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for DPS retirees to the call. These are the individuals who spent decades protecting Texans by patrolling highways, responding to disasters, and serving with integrity in every corner of the state. Many now live on fixed incomes that have not kept pace with inflation.

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A 13th check or COLA would provide real, tangible relief for those who dedicated their careers to safeguarding the public. We were excited to see the House overwhelmingly pass Rep. Cody Vasut’s 13th check bill (HB 886) by a vote of 131-9. With your help prioritizing this legislation, we are optimistic that Lt. Gov. Patrick, who has also been an outspoken supporter of law enforcement, will send it to your desk.

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Governor, you have consistently stood with law enforcement. We hope you will continue that legacy by supporting our retired troopers and adding this crucial issue to the special session agenda.

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Thank you again for your strong support of DPS and the broader law enforcement community. We are grateful for your leadership and your continued commitment to keeping Texas safe.

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Sincerely,

Rohnnie Shaw
Executive Director
Texas State Troopers Association

Texas State Troopers are the front-line defenders of our state. They patrol the highways, fight transnational gangs, protect our schools, support local law enforcement, respond to natural disasters, and interdict cross-border human and drug smuggling. They don’t ask for much, but they need the right tools to do the job.

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At the Texas State Troopers Association, we’ve got their backs. That means standing up for them not just in the field, but also in the policymaking process. And right now, we’re encouraged by the major public safety investments included in the House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

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The House version of the bill provides $12 billion in reimbursements to help states like Texas recover the costs of securing the southern border, and the Senate may raise it further. That’s not a handout. It’s a recognition of the burden our state has carried for years, and a chance to ensure DPS and other agencies don’t have to rob one priority to fund another. This funding will help offset operational costs, cover equipment upgrades, and ease the pressure on officers already spread thin.

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It also continues support for federal funding streams that have helped DPS and local law enforcement agencies hire, train, and equip officers for decades. These aren’t flashy programs, but they work. They keep up with recruitment needs and make sure officers in the field have body armor, radios, and vehicles that function when it matters.

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Grants to local law enforcement partners make troopers’ jobs easier. When local agencies are better equipped, trained, and prepared, it strengthens the entire public safety network. Coordination at every level keeps communities safer and allows troopers to focus on their critical roles.

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These investments strengthen our ability to respond quickly to emergencies, whether that’s a natural disaster, a major crime, or a public safety threat. They also help DPS and local agencies keep pace with the rapid growth and evolving challenges Texas faces every year.

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These are the kinds of investments that protect families, neighborhoods, and local economies. They’re not political. They’re practical, and they deliver results.

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As the bill is moving in the Senate, we’re urging lawmakers to protect these priorities—including the programs that law enforcement relies on to stay trained, prepared, and mission-ready. At a time when threats are growing more complex, we should be stepping up our investment in public safety—not scaling back the very programs that help keep Americans safe. 

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There are still lots of discussions ahead on what makes it into the final version, but those negotiations shouldn’t come at the expense of the funding that keeps our communities secure and our officers equipped to respond.

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This isn’t about politics—it’s about readiness. Our members, Texas State Troopers and noncommissioned DPS employees, are keeping us all safe, doing their duty without excuse. Congress should do the same. That means passing a final bill that keeps law enforcement funding strong, border reimbursements intact, and programs in place to fully equip our officers to handle the challenges ahead.