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Lawrenceville Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association

HomeJohn Merrill Award
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John Merrill is a founding member and past President of the Lawrenceville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. In appreciation of his dedication and hard work in the LCPAAA and dedication to the community, a Memorial Recognition Award has been created in his name. This award is presented yearly to deserving individuals who have shown leadership in our community and compassion for those in need.

To be considered for the John Merrill award a candidate must meet these requirements.


Persons being nominated for this award will have consistently demonstrated qualities of compassion, and service to either one organization or a variety of volunteer activities in one year. The charitable activities / events or service listed on the application cannot be part of the nominee's job description or duties and the individual cannot receive any monetary or personal benefits from their involvement.

  1. Criteria and Nomination Guidelines
    The nomination must demonstrate the nominees ongoing community service,
    which incorporates the below characteristics. Please describe how the nominee has
    met each of the below characteristics that are required to be a leader within the
    community:
    1. Leadership: An individual who makes significant contributions to building a sense of unity and purpose in his or her community. The nominee should have a demonstrated ability to build stronger communities through promotion of personal growth and development.
    2. Social Responsibility: An individual who assists others in improving their communities through volunteer programs, social groups, outreach centers,sports programs or after school groups. The nominee should have contributed to least one community program or initiative with measurable results of how they impacted participants of that community program or initiative.
    3. Mentorship: An individual who demonstrates positive values and behaviors that influence others to emulate or aspire to emulate. The nominee should have examples of instances during which they have mentored community members in a positive way.
    4. Change Agent: An individual who influences or stimulates others to effect positive changes through personal development or self improvement. The nominee should have demonstrated their role as a change agent.

     

     

    John Merrill Award Nomination Form



2024 John Merrill Award Nominees

 





Brandon Watts



I am Brandon Watts, Founder, CEO and President of Operation Rallypoint. I’m a Combat Infantryman and Noncommissioned Officer with two combat tours in Iraq. I served in the Invasion with 2-7 Infantry 3ID in 2003 and again as a Combat Advisor (MiTT) on the MNSTC-I staff in 2008. I have an Associate’s Degree in Political Science/History from Georgia State University and a Bachelor’s degree in History of Western Civilization from Georgia Gwinnett College. I’m a Husband and a father. My wife is from Thailand and we visit her family when we can. I founded Operation Rallypoint on the streets of Atlanta in October 2015. Fellow veterans and Cofounder’s Johnny Grimes and Beth Mason Briele (RIP May 2019), along with myself spent one hundred nights on the streets of Atlanta with the homeless population looking for veterans in need. We shared our story online and received personal donations. Waffle House gave us a grant and Kats naturals gave us a sponsorship. From there we’ve grown to 7 volunteers and $240,000 monetary budget. We’ve assisted approximately 8,000 veterans over 8 years of operation. We received our 501(c)3 in January 2017. We provide triage and immediate lodging for veterans in crisis. We are on the VA Crisis Line. We have hotel rates ranging from $38 to $60 a night with our partnering hotels. We have 8 Duplex apartments with 11 veterans, 25 people in them (families included). We’ve also given 25+ vehicles to veterans in need and provided a roof, garage door, and remodel to a veteran in need’s home. We have a documentary film from our early days on YouTube, a second one in production, and we’ve videoed the car giveaways and house repairs and are available on our Facebook page. Our oath has no expiration date. I’m humbled and deeply thankful for the opportunity to continue to support and assist our comrades. A demographic of success is a goal all of us veterans should desire.


Allisha Kelly



As owner of Cosmos on Crogan the local downtown pizzeria, we believe that community is at the heart of every city. We try to support as many local charities as possible and our local city employees as they are such a big part of our community. We at Cosmos, support Beyond the Ribbon, Family Promise, the local LVPD while on duty with meals, Central Gwinnett sports and band by suppling meals for the teams. Our community is a big part of our business and being a small business they support keeping us open and offering jobs so we try and give back as much as possible.

Vote for the 2024 John Merrill award nominee of your choice.  

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