Families of civil service members often follow in those footsteps in one way or another: giving back to their communities or to people in need across the globe becomes a shared calling. Such was the case for Austin Dial. To acknowledge his continual efforts of giving back, Austin was recently awarded a $2,500 scholarship by the Utah 1033 Foundation in Honor of a Fallen Law Enforcement Officer. 

Austin’s father is Lt. Wayne Dial of the Unified Police Department. Austin recently graduated from Bingham High School and is currently serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Honduras until June. Austin gave countless hours of community service to the South Jordan Youth City Council and to the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he organized a service project that collected and sent clothing to families in need in Honduras.

 “I feel like I have great role models in my life that have taught me a lot about service,” Austin said in a press release. “My parents have especially been great examples of service and leadership. They taught me to help other people and to be a leader in all that I do. Everyone should do community service in order to make the world a better place and most of all just to help others.”

Austin received the Jared Francom Leadership award in honor of Ogden Police Officer Jared Francom who was killed in January of 2012 while serving a drug-related search warrant. Austin was one of four local students who received a leadership award presented by Senator Kevin Van Tassell. 

“There are six police officers in my family and I look up to each one of them,” Austin said. “I am honored and privileged to receive a scholarship and award in honor of somebody who gave their life trying to make a difference. It makes this award so much more personal knowing that it honors a man who dedicated his life to service and leadership.”