TACUPA Annual Awards and Scholarships
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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.
The nomination window is now open through Nov. 17th.
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Click here for Engells Award Nominee Submission Guide
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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.
The nomination window is now open through Nov. 17th..
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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.
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The nomination window is now open through Nov. 17th.
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Click here to access Daniels Award Nominee Submission Guide
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TACUPA Past-President Awards
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The following TACUPA members where awarded Past President Awards for serving
as the TACUPA President. The awards are listed by year served.
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President 2022 - Assistant Chief Jay Tillerson. University of Texas - Arlington
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President 2021 - Chief Paul Willingham. LoneStar College - Houston
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President 2020 - Chief Ron Davidson. Texas A&M - San Antonio
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President 2019 - Chief Lauretta Hill, Dallas County College - Dallas
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President 2018 - Chief Kim Lemaux, University of Texas - Arlington
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President 2017 - Chief Michael Ragan, Texas A&M - College Station
TACUPA Scholarships
(Accepting 2022 Submissions Until January 31, 2023)
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TACUPA is proud to offer scholarship awards programs for law enforcement professionals working in the college and university environments.
Applicants for the Frank I. Cornwall Scholarship or the General Scholarship must be licensed peace officers employed full-time with a university or college law enforcement agency as defined by Article 2.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures, and that agency must be a part of a member institution. All applicants must possess a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, be currently enrolled at a university with a degree plan, and must be making progress toward either a Bachelors or Masters degree. Both academic scholarships are in the amount of $500.
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Applicants for the Donna Spinato Scholarship must be employed full-time with a university or college law enforcement agency as defined by Article 2.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures, and that agency must be a part of a member institution. All applicants must possess a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, be currently enrolled at a university with a degree plan, and must be making progress toward either a Bachelors or Masters degree. This academic scholarship is in the amount of $500.
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 many apply for more than one scholarship is they meet qualification standards.
All documents are to be emailed to TACUPAorganization@gmail.com no later than January 31, 2023.
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​The deadline for submitting applications for 2022 scholarships is January 31, 2023. The TACUPA board will determine who each scholarship is awarded to according to TACUPA by-laws and will notify successful applicants.
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Click Here for Scholarship Submission Guidelines
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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 2023 scholarship are being accepted now.
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TACUPA General Scholarship
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Applications for the 2022 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.
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Applications for the 2022 scholarship are being accepted now.
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