From left: Trooper Welsch's sister's Eileen Eddins, Barb Harvey and neice Jennifer Mercereau pose with the 2009 award recipient Cadet Justin J. Nagle; Eugene Baidas, Director of Academy Operations and Dominick DeNaples, Chairman, Lackawanna College Board of Trustees.

Cadet Justin J. Nagle of Kingsley received a $500 certificate for body armor at Lackawanna College's 180th Police Academy Graduation ceremony at the Mellow Theater on Friday, July 11, 2009.

The award was presented by the family of fallen Trooper Joseph J. Welsch of Archbald. It is the second year the Welsch Family is presenting a memorial gift. The family had recently donated funds to the memorial fund for Trooper Joshua D. Miller of Pittston, another graduate of Lackawanna that recently died in the line of duty.

"My uncle's family is very close and the loss of him has been very hard on our family, said Jennifer Mercereau, niece of Trooper Welsch and the family spokesperson. "But that closeness and his memory have made us stronger. Hopefully, this gift will help prevent another family from losing a loved one."

Trooper Welsch was killed in the line of duty on September 13, 1977. He was 26 years old and had been with the Pennsylvania State Police for four years. His wife, Jean M. Welsch of Mansfield, was presented the State Police Cross on December 13, 1977.

"I am very proud to be part of something that helps to honor the memory of Trooper Joseph J. Welsch", commented Director of the Police Academy at Lackawanna College Eugene R. Baidas, a retired member of the Pennsylvania State Police.