Carenda Starling receives SGTC Michael Sangster Law Enforcement scholarship

Carenda Starling of Dawson, GA was selected as the recipient of the South Georgia Technical College Lt. Michael Sangster Law Enforcement Academy endowed scholarship from the SGTC Law Enforcement Academy (LEA) Class of 18-02. She was also selected as the Class Representative for the LEA Class of 18-02.
Starling earned her Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification from the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy.
“Being awarded this scholarship is an honor but it is also an aid for me to be able to further my career in law enforcement with additional training. I am so honored to be associated with the Lt. Michael Sangster Scholarship,” said Carenda Starling. “I hope to make his family proud and continue to make a positive impact on the lives of many in my community as a law enforcement officer.”
Starling is a single parent of two children, Jordan (son) and Leah (daughter). She began her career in law enforcement as a jailer with the Terrell County Sheriff’s Department in 2006. Since then she has had the opportunity to work with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Corrections Corporation of America, Tulsa Juvenile Bureau and Okmulgee County Jail in Oklahoma. She entered the law enforcement field after she took a job out of high school at a sewing factory which closed down and left her unemployed.
SGTC Law Enforcement Academy Director Brett Murray made the announcement of the Lt. Michael Sangster scholarship recipient during the recent graduation ceremony. Lt. Sangster’s mother, Connie Sangster Youngblood, his sister, Melissa Sangster, and his dad, Bob Sangster, were on hand to present the certificate and the scholarship check. This is the 11th Lt. Michael Sangster scholarship that has been awarded at SGTC since 2012.
Lt. Michael Sangster was an officer with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office and served as a volunteer instructor for the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy from the inception of the program. He lost his battle with cancer and passed away in 2012 at the age of 35. With the help of LEA students, friends, SGTC faculty and staff, and Lou Crouch, the Sangster family was able to endow a scholarship in his memory for SGTC LEA students.
Michael Sangster of Cordele held numerous POST certifications, including General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, TASER Instructor, and Driver Instructor.
Lt. Sangster was born in Dooly County but spent most of his life in Cordele. He was the son of Robert Sangster, Sr. and Connie Sangster Youngblood. He has a sister, Melissa Sangster and a son, Caleb.
“On behalf of South Georgia Technical College and the South Georgia Technical College Foundation, I would like to thank the Sangster family, Lou Crouch and the other individuals who donated to this particular scholarship for partnering with us,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “We appreciate the opportunities that this scholarship is providing for our deserving Law Enforcement Academy students. Your investment in an endowed scholarship will continue to give back to our students indefinitely. We appreciate everything you are doing for our students and our community. Thank you again for recognizing the value of the educational opportunities and for supporting this effort. The students you help today will be the public servants that we count on tomorrow in our local communities.”
For more information about making a donation to the Lt. Michael Sangster Scholarship Fund or for endowing a scholarship at South Georgia Technical College, contact Su Ann Bird, SGTC Foundation Executive Director at 229.931.2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu. Contributions may also be mailed to the SGTC Foundation, P.O. Box 6102, Americus, GA.
The South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy program takes 18 weeks to complete and most recruits qualify for the HOPE Grant and other forms of financial aid. Admission standards require all students to undergo a thorough background check and adhere to all rules as set forth by the state POST Council. Students will also have to meet minimum scores in English, reading and math.
For more information about the Law Enforcement Academy contact the Law Enforcement Academy office at 229.931.2716 or SGTC Law Enforcement Academy Director Brett Murray at 229.931.2756; or SGTC Dean Academic Affairs Vanessa Wall in Americus at 229.931.2713.