The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation is honored to recognize Riley Hesson as a 2026 CPOF scholarship recipient.
Riley will attend Walsh University this fall, where she has been accepted into the university’s nursing program. With a heart for serving others and a clear calling to care for the most vulnerable patients, she is pursuing her dream of becoming a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse.
Riley is the daughter of William “Bill” Hesson, a Juvenile Corrections Officer at Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in Ohio, who was killed in the line of duty in 2009 after being assaulted by an inmate. Riley was only 18 months old when her father died, and her mother, Julia, was expecting Riley’s younger brother at the time.
Although Riley has no personal memories of her father, his commitment to serving others—and the strength and resilience demonstrated by her family—have helped shape the person she has become.
In her scholarship essay, Riley shared that she was raised in a loving home by her mother, who encouraged her to pursue every opportunity that came her way. From the age of three, Riley immersed herself in dance, eventually joining a competitive dance team where she trained in jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and ballet. She also stepped outside her comfort zone by joining her high school’s golf team, a decision she credits to her mother’s encouragement and one that became one of her favorite experiences throughout high school.
Riley’s passion for nursing developed through experiences that touched her heart. At age 12, she followed the journey of her dance teacher’s newborn who required intensive care in the NICU due to a congenital condition. Later, she formed a close bond with young twin neighbors who had been born at just 26 weeks. As their regular babysitter, Riley learned how to assist with feeding tubes and other specialized care while hearing firsthand how life-changing the NICU staff had been for their family.
Those experiences confirmed what Riley already felt—that she wanted to dedicate her life to caring for critically ill newborns and supporting families during some of the most emotional moments of their lives.
Determined to prepare herself for that future, Riley has taken every opportunity available to build her knowledge and skills. Throughout high school, she maintained a GPA between 3.0 and 3.8 while completing an impressive healthcare-focused curriculum. She earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification through her school’s MedTech program, completed college-level English and medical terminology courses, fulfilled the clinical requirements to become a phlebotomist, and is currently completing an EMT program that will allow her to graduate with yet another healthcare credential.
Each step has brought her closer to the career she has envisioned for years.
This scholarship will help ease the financial burden of attending college while allowing Riley to remain focused on achieving her goal of earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. More than financial assistance, the scholarship represents the continued support of a correctional family whose sacrifice will never be forgotten.
We are proud to support Riley as she begins this next chapter and know she will carry forward a legacy of service, compassion, and dedication as she cares for others in the years ahead.
Photo caption: CPOF scholarship recipient Riley Hesson is pictured after receiving her 2026 scholarship award.