Some people tell their story through accomplishments. A’Cottia McQueen-Blue tells hers like a Broadway musical.
The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation is proud to recognize A’Cottia McQueen-Blue as a 2026 CPOF Scholarship recipient.
This fall, A’Cottia will attend UNC Greensboro, where she plans to major in Psychology as she begins the journey toward her ultimate goal of becoming a forensic psychiatrist.
In her scholarship essay, A’Cottia describes her life as a musical, complete with dramatic plot twists, memorable characters, and a soundtrack that changed when her family moved from Raleigh to a small town to be closer to loved ones. Through every scene, she learned that while she couldn’t always control the setting, she could control the energy she brought to it.
That energy has shaped every chapter of her life.
She discovered a passion for musical theatre, singing, and dance at a performing arts school before finding another creative outlet in the kitchen, where baking became “science” and cooking became “art.” Those experiences eventually led her to a fascination with psychology and criminology—a desire to understand what drives people and how the human mind works under pressure.
“My goal now is to become a forensic psychiatrist, a role that combines my deep-seated need to help people with my fascination for the human psyche.”
The daughter of Catina McQueen-Blue, who serves with the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, A’Cottia has built her life around kindness, service, and genuine connection with others. She describes herself as the person who will strike up a conversation with a stranger in the grocery store or help a friend move late at night before making sure they’ve had something to eat.
Her dream of attending medical school is fueled not only by academic ambition but by a heartfelt desire to help others find clarity during some of life’s most difficult moments.
The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation is honored to invest in students like A’Cottia whose intelligence, compassion, and unmistakable personality promise to make a lasting difference.
Congratulations, A’Cottia! We can’t wait to see where your next act takes you.