Naperville Parks District: 15th Annual Officer David White Scholarship Awarded To Ava Bezai ...

Press release from Naperville Parks District:

June 25, 2021

The 2021 Officer David White Scholarship was awarded to Ava Bezaire, daughter of Naperville Fire Lieutenant Benjamin Bezaire. The recognition took place at the Naperville Park District board of commissioners meeting held at Fort Hill Activity Center on Thursday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m. Park District Police Chief Steve Schindlbeck explained the background of the scholarship and recognized Ava who attended with her family.

  The $2,000 scholarship honors the compassionate public service demonstrated by Naperville Park Police Officer David White, whose actions helped save a young man’s life in 2006. The scholarship is funded by an anonymous donor, who has provided $2,000 annually for the scholarship since 2007. The scholarship is open to an individual age 25 and under who either is a son or daughter of an active duty Naperville police officer, park police officer, or firefighter or someone who is serving in one of these roles themselves.  Naperville Police Explorers and Naperville Fire Explorers also are eligible.

In the donor’s words, “The purpose of the scholarship is to inspire our next generation of public servants to care enough to exert the extra effort, to take a second look.” 

A panel of five judges selected Ava Bezaire as the 2021 scholarship recipient by evaluating the scholarship applications that were submitted. The scholarship panel included the following community leaders:

Chief Schindlbeck noted that Ava was selected for her volunteer service and leadership and for her understanding of the importance of public service to the well-being of the whole community.

This press release was produced by Naperville Parks District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.