The Officer Sean A. Collier Self Sponsor Scholarship

On April 18, 2013 the MIT Police lost a brother and a friend, Officer Sean Collier. In order to honor him in the best way they know how they set up a scholarship fund that would send one self-sponsored recruit (MIT Self Sponsor) through the Lowell Police Academy (LPA) annually (the Scholarship) as a student officer. Officer Collier self-sponsored himself through the Transit Academy in order to start his law enforcement career. This recruit will have the honor of wearing MIT’s Patch in Officer Sean Collier’s memory. Spring of 2022 will mark the 7th year of this great Scholarship. **2021 had no recruit due to COVID-19**

Past Recipients and current Police Departments:

Robert Parrella - 2015
     • MIT PD
     • MSP
Nicholas Saledas – 2016
     • Burlington PD
Nicholas Thayer – 2017
     • Townsend PD
     • Chelmsford PD
Joshua Griffith – 2018
     • Reading PD
Hannah Ciavarra – 2019
     • Holliston PD
Christopher Keenan - 2020
     • Northeastern University

Scholarship Requirements:

Applicant must:

  • Be a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Have received a Bachelor’s degree from a college or university
  • Demonstrate community involvement
  • Demonstrate a commitment to professional development
  • Be able to meet all of the LPA’s entrance requirements:
    • Be at least 21 years of age
    • Possess a valid Massachusetts driver’s license
    • Have no felony convictions
    • Pass a medical exam based on HRD requirements
    • Pass the Physical Abilities Test
    • Pass the Coopers Test*
    • Pass a background investigation

Application Process:

Applicant must submit a package consisting of:

  • A resume
  • A letter of intent, describing how the applicant has served, and will serve, as an exemplary role model that would distinguish him/her from other applicants and honor the memory of Officer Collier
  • Two (2) letters of reference

Process for 2022 Officer Sean A. Collier Self Sponsor Scholarship:

  • Applications due by February 14, 2022
  • Scholarship Committee will narrow applications based on above requirements
  • Finalists will be interviewed by the Scholarship Committee at which time they will perform the Coopers Test to establish entry level ability**
  • The Scholarship Committee will award The Officer Sean A. Collier Self-Sponsor Scholarship to one person

*Coopers Test-must be able to be pass prior to start of LPA
** At time of interview Cooper’s test is NOT Pass/Fail – for base line information only

***A waiver will be signed prior to test at Interview stage***

PLEASE NOTE: AWARD OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE LPA PROGRAM AS A SELF SPONSOR DOES NOT GUARANTEE EMPLOYMENT AT ANY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

** ALL application packages must be submitted in PDF form via email to: collierscholarship@mit.edu, NO LATER THAN February 14, 2022.

A PDF version can be downloaded here.