In becoming a police officer at the age of 20, Seth Alday took the first step in what he hopes will be a lifelong career in law enforcement. Now, as he accepts his bachelor's degree in criminology, from Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, he is taking another.
Alday, who is from Altha, Florida, is currently a patrol lieutenant with the Chattahoochee Police Department in Gadsden County and since 2022, he's been a student at FSU. A couple years into his career, Alday was looking toward the future.
"I knew a bachelor's degree would open up opportunities for advancement and promotion," he said. "The idea of being a student, and paying for tuition while still working, I knew it was going to be a balancing act."
Searching for a way to make it happen, Alday found the Relgalf Scholarship, offered at FSU's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. The scholarship covers tuition and fees for students who are current police officers interested in criminology.
When he found the scholarship he jumped at the opportunity.
Alday said his degree will ensure he is able to continue on in a career he knew from a young age he wanted to pursue.
"My dad worked for the Department of Corrections," he said. "I watched him wake up every day and press his uniform. When I got older, I did some ride alongs, and they kind of hooked me."
At that point, Alday said: "I knew law enforcement was going to be my thing."
Five years into his career as a police officer, Alday, knows he made the right career choice. Sleepless nights studying squeezed in between the demands a full time job in law enforcement aside, he said he feels the same way about choosing FSU.
“We work 12-hour shifts, so there have been a lot of sleepless nights getting homework done," he said. "I’m very thankful to have earned my degree and furthered my career at the same time.”
Alday credited his professors and instructors with being responsive and quick to provide help throughout his time at FSU.
“They were incredible,” he said. “I wouldn’t ask for anything different in my experience at FSU.”