RICHMOND, Ky. — College semesters are winding down and for some seniors, commencement ceremonies begin this weekend. At Eastern Kentucky University, over 1,300 fall graduates will receive their diplomas on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Mackenzie Maawac will walk across the stage at Saturday's 9 a.m. ceremony with degrees in criminal justice and Spanish. From a young age, they knew they wanted to be a police officer; specifically a homicide detective.
“I’ve just always been interested in it, not sure why. I would watch a lot of true crime documentaries or even shows like Bones and there was just something that drew me toward that field," Maawac said.
Now, Maawac is on the path to pursuing that dream after three and a half years in EKU's College of Justice, Safety and Military Science. Saturday morning they will deliver a commencement speech to their graduating class.
“Growing up, I was a lot more timid and socially awkward, but I have grown so much during my time here, pushing myself," Maawac said.
Maawac began applying to the Lexington Police Department in September and hopes to bring the perspective of being Hispanic and being a member of the LGBTQ community to the police force.
“It’s important for the community to be able to see somebody represent them that is in a position of power like that and to be able to say I know they have my back, they understand my issues and needs," Maawac said.
The daughter of military parents, Maawac has lived in Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky to name a few. But their family has remained their biggest supporter, even when they doubted if their petite size would fit in as a police officer.
“We’re kind of across different parts of the map here in the U.S. but their support has never been an issue," Maawac said.
Now they are embracing their smaller structure as a strength.
“I can handle my own and brute strength is not everything. Sometimes you have to be able to connect to others with a more delicate hand," Maawac said.
Embarking on a mission to protect lives and make a difference.
“I want to bridge the gaps that have been seen between the community and the police especially since 2020 with all those events and the media and I know that both can grow together," Maawac said.
According to the university, Criminal Justice is among the top 5 degrees awarded at EKU.
EKU’s College of Justice, Safety and Military Science is EKU’s first and only program of distinction, designated by the Council on Post-Secondary Education in 1998.
