Port St. Lucie Student Wins Police Union's Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholarship

Madison Wilkins of Port St. Lucie has been awarded the Edward J. Kiernan Memorial Scholarship by the International Union of Police Associations, the AFL-CIO union that represents rank-and-file law enforcement officers across the country, the union announced Wednesday in a release sent to The Florida Press.

Wilkins is the daughter of Joseph Byrne, a member of the Port St. Lucie Police Officers Association, I.U.P.A. Local 6015. She attends Indian River State College, where she is studying pre-law, according to the union.

Why she applied

In her application essay, Wilkins wrote that she has "always admired what law enforcement does for our community," pointing to officers who enforce the laws, respond to emergencies and protect residents. That work, she wrote, "has ultimately played a crucial role in deciding what career path I want to pursue in the future."

What the local union said

Keith Appelbaum, president of Local 6015, thanked the international union for the program and said the sacrifices officers make "are often shared by their families." He congratulated Wilkins on her selection and said the association is proud of "her dedication to pursuing a career in law."

About the scholarship

The union's international president, Sam A. Cabral, created the scholarship in 1999 to honor Edward J. Kiernan, a New York City police officer and former I.U.P.A. president. In the release, Cabral said the union owes it to future generations to back young people who choose public service, adding that "the future of America rests in the hands of our youth."

To qualify, an applicant's parent or guardian must belong to an I.U.P.A. affiliate, and the applicant must be accepted at an accredited college or university in law enforcement, labor relations or a related field. Applicants submit a transcript, SAT or ACT scores and a letter of recommendation from a school official. The union named four Kiernan scholars nationwide in 2025.

The union behind it

Chartered in 1979 and headquartered in Sarasota, the I.U.P.A. represents active-duty law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.