Police-community group awards scholarships to aspiring officers

Two Lebanon County high school seniors have received $1,000 scholarships to help further their education in criminal justice.

Vivian Colon Peralta from Lebanon High School and Riley Messinger from Northern Lebanon High School are the recipients of the 2024-25 James Biever Criminal Justice Award, which is awarded annually by the James Biever Police-Community Alliance.

The board of directors of the Police-Community Alliance offers the one-time $1,000 scholarship to high school seniors in Lebanon County who are pursuing studies in criminal justice. This year, the alliance was able to offer two $1,000 scholarships, according to a May 22 press release from alliance president Michelle Biever.

Vivian Colon Peralta will be attending West Virginia University to study forensic examination. She is a member of Lebanon High School’s music program, participating in marching band, jazz band, percussion ensemble and show choir. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Riley Messinger will be attending West Virginia University Institute of Technology to study criminal justice. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has participated in various sports at Northern Lebanon, including soccer, basketball, football, and baseball. He also participates in the Big Brother/Big Sister program in a local elementary school.

The alliance and scholarship are named for James “Jim” Biever, a retired Pennsylvania state trooper with 25 years of service. Part of his vision for his nonprofit organization included helping students that wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice, the release says. The alliance welcomes students pursuing degrees in areas such as law, forensic science and psychology, juvenile justice, emergency management, public policy, and criminology to apply for the scholarship, which is awarded to students who are “passionate about using their voice to protect, serve and invoke change within our communities,” the release says.

The James Biever Police-Community Alliance’s mission is to enhance and foster police and community relations while providing financial support to Lebanon County police departments and individuals interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice. More information is available online at jbpca.org.