Sworn to Serve: Former TRIO student enters law enforcement career

For Joey’liz Cruz of Panama City, an extracurricular activity she joined in her sophomore year at Bay High School led her into college and a career.

At the age of 19, Cruz was sworn in as a patrol officer for the Lynn Haven Police Department in February 2026. It was the culmination of a series of life choices she described as an expression of her desire to become a different person than some negative family experiences could have molded. 

“I went to college for stenography, but that wasn’t working for me,” Cruz said, so she shifted to a certificate program to become a law enforcement officer.

Born in Puerto Rico, Cruz moved to Massachusetts with her family at age 4. By fifth grade, she was living in Bay County. In high school, she focused on sports and physical fitness.

“I liked the more physical aspect of things,” she said.

Her route to police work began in her sophomore year at Bay High, when a friend told her about the TRIO Educational Talent Search program. She thought it was an interesting “extracurricular,” she said, especially after she discovered the staff would help her with college admission and financial aid applications.

That’s when Cruz met Casey Lynn Nelson, the FSU PC site coordinator for TRIO, who encouraged her and guided her through the process of applying for college as well as financial aid.

“Miss Casey helped me study and figure things out. She even helped me with the emotional things you go through in high school,” Cruz said. “She helped me a lot in finding the way I wanted to progress.”

TRIO is part of FSU Panama City’s pre-collegiate initiative serving schools in Bay, Franklin, Holmes and Leon counties. It helps high schoolers connect with academic tutoring and mentoring; offers workshops on careers, financial literacy and time management; provides guidance into postsecondary education; and assists with federal student financial aid applications, preparation for college entrance exams, and admission applications.

TRIO is federally funded with a mission to increase the number of youths from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and finish postsecondary education.

“Joey’liz is the first one in her family to go to college and to get a degree,” Nelson said. “She has been working tirelessly to complete her schooling.”

Cruz graduated from Bay High School in May 2024 and is on track to complete a police officer certificate at Gulf Coast State College in April 2026. She credits FSU Panama City’s TRIO program with getting her through the hurdles and tribulations of life, which helped Cruz land her dream job.

“If I could talk to a high schooler today, I’d say to take TRIO seriously,” Cruz said. “Some kids do it to (get out of attending regular classes), but I would push them to complete the program. Listen to the advice. Take advantage of the studying and tutoring help for free. … It’s something I’ll never forget.”

For more information on the TRIO Educational Talent Search, visit pc.fsu.edu/talent-search.