Kyle Dieling's Memory Lives on Through Police Benevolent Association Scholarship

The Elmhurst Police Benevolent Athletic Association has announced it will award a $500 scholarship to a deserving Elmhurst student pursuing a career in law enforcement.

The Kyle Dieling Scholarship, named in honor of an Elmhurst police officer who was Jan. 1, 2011, will be awarded to an Elmhurst student who has maintained at least a 2.0 grade-point average while enrolled at a college or university. The student must be a sophomore or higher and must be enrolled in a law enforcement program as a full-time student.

Applications must be submitted by May 1 and include a written acceptance letter from the college or other documentation of enrollment. For an application, email Elmhurst Police Det. Ed Coughlin at ed.coughlin@elmhurst.org.

Scholarships will be awarded by June 1.

Dieling attended Emerson Elementary School and Churchville Middle School, and he graduated from York High School in 2001. He earned a degree from the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at College of DuPage and a bachelor's degree in criminology from Murray State University in Kentucky. He was a for about one year.

He was killed at age 27 when his truck crashed on an icy section of Route 6 in Homer Glen. He was off-duty at the time, on his way to hunt geese. He is described by his loved ones as a

The association hopes to maintain funds to provide an annual award. Anyone interested in donating to the fund should call (630) 530-3077, or send a contribution to EPBAA, ℅ Dieling Scholarship Fund, 125 E. First St., Elmhurst, IL 60126.