Dear Candilora-Jones family,

My name is Cameron Kapetanov. I am one of the beneficiaries of your police academy scholarship. I cannot thank you enough for not only providing the opportunity to cadets to receive some financial help, but for selecting me as one of those cadets!

Cameron Kapetanov

My desire to be in law enforcement goes back as long as I can remember. Being enamored as a little kid watching Superman and seeing what good he does and the values he lives by: protect the innocent, defend truth and justice, and help create a world of peace. I wanted to be him. I wanted to live the life he does. Obviously, that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon as I don’t have super powers (yet), but I could come close. I could go into law enforcement. This desire ebbed and flowed as I grew up and learned more about life and who I was as a person, but it seemed that life was not really giving me an opportunity to act on that desire…until 4 months before registration was due for the upcoming academy class. It was going to be close, but it was time.

When I made the decision to be a part of law enforcement and the academy, I knew it was going to be a rough road not only physically, but financially as well. I worked hard and was able to lose about 35lbs before the academy, but was not able to secure any financial help or success on my own. It was an added stress, as it always will be when it comes to money and the expenses of life, which I didn’t need or want. I tried my best to do side jobs and other things to help, but it just didn’t seem to be enough. Through extended family and some humble asking, I was able to at least get enough to enter into the academy. Life was still rough, though. My wife was working all she could to help out with bills; barely making it each month as I was no longer holding up my half of the financial responsibilities. We managed as best as we could, but home life was getting more difficult. It seemed as though I just had to put my dreams on hold until later in life. However, thanks to your family, I have a peace of mind at home and an increased level of focus in the academy.

I am achieving that dream to be a Super-man that I’ve had since childhood and am now doing it with more confidence and determination. It is because of you and your continuing service to future law enforcement and, for me specifically, being awarded this scholarship.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Cameron Kapetanov