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Travis Shockley

Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement Option

Travis Shockley, a corporal in the Millsboro Police Department who serves as a school resource officer, knew he wanted to work in law enforcement, and he knew that ̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech was a great place to get the education he needed to launch his career.

"I had a desire to serve my community and help keep my community safe," said Shockley. "To me, there is no greater satisfaction than being able to help someone in need, and as a police officer, you get those opportunities every single day."

Shockley enrolled at ̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech upon his graduation from Sussex Technical High School, basing his decision upon several important factors.

"I decided to attend ̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech because it was local and for the financial benefits it has to offer, and because I knew that all of the instructors for the criminal justice program were either active or retired law enforcement, so they had a direct connection to the career field I wanted to enter," he said. "It was great hearing their experiences.

"̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech was like a family to me. All the instructors were compassionate, caring, and knowledgeable, and they truly took an interest in my career goals."

Shockley, who used the SEED scholarship to attend ̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech tuition free, went to school full time and also worked as a part-time seasonal police officer for the Bethany Beach Police Department.

"When I graduated with my associate degree in criminal justice, I felt extremely prepared and confident entering the workforce," he said. "̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech's criminal justice program emphasizes teamwork, communication, and professionalism, and those are skills that are needed to be an effective police officer."

After earning his degree at ̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech, Shockley continued his education by using the College's Connected Degree program to transfer to Wilmington University. He graduated from WilmU with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and was hired by Millsboro Police Department where he spent four years as a patrol officer before moving into his current job as a school resource officer.

"If you have an interest in law enforcement, start at ̽»¨Ô¼Å¾ Tech," Shockley said. "It's what's directly led to my success as a police officer."

Travis Shockley
Travis Shockley

Program of Study
Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement Option

Graduation Year
2018