TACUPA Annual Awards and Scholarships
Thomas Engells Memorial Award for Excellence
For the first time, nominations are being accepted for the Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators (TACUPA) Thomas Engells Memorial Award for Excellence to an outstanding employee of a campus police agency. Professional staff (non-sworn) employees of university police agencies are eligible for this award.
Thomas Engells had a distinguished 35-year career in law enforcement, ultimately serving as Police Chief of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. He was twice selected as Police Chief of the Year within the UT System and was also named TACUPA Administrator of the Year in 2006. Tom was recognized as an international expert in biosecurity, and authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals on ethics, leadership and homeland security. Chief Engells died unexpectedly at the age of 59 in 2018. The Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators chose to name this memorial award in his honor.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship are being accepted now.
Larry W. Fultz Memorial Award for Excellence
Each year the Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators (TACUPA) presents the Larry W. Fultz Memorial Award for Excellence to an outstanding campus police officer.
Larry W. Fultz was a retired Inspector for the City of Houston Police Department, an Attorney at Law, the head of Juvenile for Harris County, and the principal author of the current Juvenile and Family Code of the State of Texas. He became the Director of Security at the University of Houston and immediately became active in the promotion and development of campus policing in the State of Texas.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship are being accepted now.
Bill G. Daniels Award for Outstanding Administrator
Each year the Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators (TACUPA)
presents the Bill G. Daniels Award for Outstanding Administrator to a Police Chief or Director
of Security or Public Safety nominated by his or her institution’s President or CEO and selected
by the Awards Committee of the Association based on the information provided in the
nomination letter. The Association is soliciting nominations for this year’s Award and requests
that you give consideration to nominating your institution’s Chief or Director for this
recognition.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship are being accepted now.
Accepting 2025 Submissions Until October 1, 2025
TACUPA ANNUAL AWARDS
TACUPA ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS
TACUPA is proud to offer scholarship awards programs for law enforcement professionals working in the college and university environments.
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Frank I. Cornwall Scholarship
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TACUPA General Scholarship
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Donna Spinato Scholarship
All applicants must complete and sign an application, obtain their Chief's/Director's signature on the application, and submit a resume, a college transcript, and a one-page essay outlining career aspirations (not to exceed 500 words). Applicants may apply for more than one scholarship if they meet qualification standards.
All documents are to be emailed to Bryan.Vaughn@etamu.edu no later than October 1, 2025.
The deadline for submitting applications for 2025 scholarships is October 1, 2025.
The TACUPA board will determine awardees for each scholarship according to TACUPA by-laws and will notify successful applicants.
Frank I. Cornwall Memorial Scholarship
This TACUPA memorial scholarship is named in honor of Frank I. Cornwall who served as the Director of Police for The University of Texas System.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship are being accepted now.
TACUPA General Scholarship
Annually, the Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators (TACUPA)provides educational scholarship opportunities to higher education police department and security department employees.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship are being accepted now.
Donna Spinato Scholarship
This TACUPA scholarship is named in honor of Donna Spinato who served as Police Chief for Texas A&M Commerce. During her 36-year career, she also served as a dispatcher, security guard, police officer, sergeant, investigator, and captain. Her selfless dedication to university law enforcement, as a civilian and as a peace officer, is commendable. Non-sworn employees of police agencies at member institutions are eligible for this scholarship.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship are being accepted now.