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Daughter of area grad killed surprised by $30K award

Marine foundation gives scholarship funds to middle school student.

Marine Master Sgt. David Smith presents Lexis Wallace, standing with her mom, Tana Brown, with $30,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds for her college tuition Tuesday at Chamberlain Middle School in Carlisle. The savings bonds were awarded to her through a special scholarship made possible by the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Wallace is the daughter of Tony Wallace, a Franklin graduate killed in the line of duty while working as a police officer in Alaska.

Staff photo by Nick Graham Marine Master Sgt. David Smith presents Lexis Wallace, standing with her mom, Tana Brown, with $30,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds for her college tuition Tuesday at Chamberlain Middle School in Carlisle. The savings bonds were awarded to her through a special scholarship made possible by the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Wallace is the daughter of Tony Wallace, a Franklin graduate killed in the line of duty while working as a police officer in Alaska.

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By Andy Sedlak, Staff Writer Updated 10:46 AM Wednesday, May 25, 2011

CARLISLE — Lexis Wallace wiped the tears from under her glasses Tuesday as she accepted $30,000 in U.S. savings  bonds from local law enforcement officers and a U.S. Marine at an end-of-year awards assembly.

Lexis is the 13-year-old daughter of the late Tony Wallace, a Franklin High School graduate and police officer killed in the line of duty in August while working in Hoonah, Alaska.

The honor — a surprise for the Chamberlain Middle School student — was possible through the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Formed in 1995 by former Marines and law enforcement personnel, the foundation has distributed more than $50 million to date, according to its website.

“It was overwhelming,” Lexis said of the savings bonds, which will eventually serve to help with the seventh-grader’s college tuition costs.

Normally, the foundation only benefits the family of Marines or federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. An exception was made for Lexis after Scott Nissen of the Anchorage Police Department contacted the foundation. Nissen’s wife, retired Gunnery Sgt. Kara Nissen, knew there may be some options for the family through the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation.

“This is a special scholarship,” said Master Sgt. David Smith, a U.S. Marine at Tuesday’s assembly.

Also on hand to present Lexis with the six $5,000 U.S. savings bonds were Franklin police Chief Russ Whitman, Carlisle police Chief Mike Bruck, Lt. Jeff Burson of the Mason Police Department and Lt. Tim Parker and Officer Dustin Christian, both of the Springboro Police Department.

“I’m sure Tony’s looking down on us with a big grin on his face,” Whitman said.

Lexis, who received a standing ovation from her classmates, said she’d eventually like to go into nursing “to help people.”

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