Alexandra Leadley values being a Middle Township resident for many reasons but especially treasures the relationship her community has with its police department. Her admiration of this bond is evident in the essay she wrote for the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Louis Bay 2nd Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition – earning her a place as a state semifinalist.

Alexandra, a junior at Cape May County Technical High School, will receive a semifinalist certificate. The Scholarship Committee of the New Jersey League of Municipalities (NJLM) will announce 15 finalists and three winners on May 5. The three winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship, and their essays will be published in New Jersey Municipalities magazine.

“I’m elated to represent Middle Township for the NJ League of Municipalities scholarship,” Alexandra said. “I love where I live. In Middle, we really have it all. We are minutes from the beach, minutes from the amusements of the boardwalk, minutes from the Delaware Bay, minutes from a number of museums, and minutes from nature trails. During the summer, I meet interesting people from all over the world. I love living in Middle Township and sincerely hope to settle here after college.”

The theme of this year’s essay is “What My Municipal Government Does Best,” and Alexandra, a member of the Law Enforcement and Public Safety program at Cape Tech, wrote about her positive experiences with the police, including the L.E.A.D (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) program, Coffee with a Cop events, the Police Camp, Shop with a Cop and more. While many classmates talk about moving away after graduation, Alexandra hopes to attend a nearby college, such as Rowan University or Stockton University, and then start a career within the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.

“I would like to congratulate Alexandra on being selected as a semifinalist for the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ Louis Bay 2nd Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition,” said Police Chief Chris Leusner. “We place a strong emphasis on police youth engagement at the Middle Township Police Department and hope our efforts impact our kids in a positive way. We are thrilled to hear Alexandra enjoyed interacting with our officers through our various initiatives over the years and humbled to learn we had an impact. We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the future and wish her the best.”

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities is a voluntary association created to help communities do a better job of self-government through pooling information resources and brainpower. The League is authorized by state statute and since 1915, has been serving local officials throughout the Garden State. All of New Jersey’s 564 municipalities are members of the League. For more information, visit www.njlm.org.