The Leaders in Knowledge & Support (LinKs) program reaches out to High School students interested in learning about the connection between Law Enforcement and their community. Students will be exposed to opportunities to gain knowledge about the Austin Police Department and its many specialized units. Through presentations and community engagement activities students will gain a better understanding of how Law Enforcement operates and how beneficial it is for police officers to establish partnerships with the communities they serve.

LinKS has established effective partnerships with III Corps Ft. Hood, Austin Independent School District (A.I.S.D.), Travis County, State Universities and other organizations.  Volunteering with these entities has provided the students a diversity of career opportunities.
 
LinKS is designed to motivate, encourage and challenge high school students to excel above their expectations and reach their goals.  The program teaches students how to be leaders in their communities through networking and leadership training.  

LinKS provides scholarships to students in their senior year whom are graduating and have completed 150 or more community service hours during their participation in the program.

Students that participate in the program must meet the following requirements:

  • Maintain an overall passing grade point average
  • No criminal record
  • No school disciplinary action
  • Attend weekly meetings

Meetings attended will count towards their community service hours. During these meetings, students will have the opportunity to:

  • Group studies
  • Tutoring
  • Classes and training:
    • How to apply for college(s)
    • How to write a resume
    • Job interview preparation
    • Financial management
    • And more…

Some of the opportunities that students will be allowed to participate in:

  • Tour of the Capitol
  • Tour of the Austin Police Department Academy
  • Ride-out (18+)
  • Travis County Correctional Center
  • Tour of college campuses
  • VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)
  • Camp Mabry Museum
  • Joint Base San Antonio
  • Brooke Army Medical Center-Ft. Sam Houston
  • Randolph Air Force Base/Lackland Air Force Base
  • Corpus Christi Naval Air Station-Corpus Christi
  • USS Lexington-Corpus Christi
  • Coast Guard Station Aransas-Port Aransas

At the end of each school year, students with the highest GPA and/or with the most community service hours will have an opportunity to take a 5 days trip to Ft. Hood, Killeen-TX. Soldiers will present the students with information about a military career and an opportunity to earn a college tuition.
 
This once in a life time opportunity will allow students access to:

  • An inside view of what military life is about
  • Interact directly with active duty soldiers
  • Exposure to different Military Occupational Specialties (MOS)
  • Land Navigation Course
  • Working Dog Demonstrations
  • Squad/Platoon Competitions
  • First Aid Training
  • Obstacle/Team Building courses
  • Leaders Reaction Course
  • Rappel Tower
  • Army/1st Cavalry Division history
  • 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment demo
  • And more…

Three students will be selected to receive scholarships from the program based on their overall grades, community service hours and performances:

  • 1st Place: $1,000.00
  • 2nd Place: $700.00
  • 3rd Place: $500.00 

Learn how to participate in this program by calling Phuong "Binh" Nguyen at (512) 974-5519 or email.