ALPBA Scholarship Student Eyes Military Future

Mar 5, 2025

By Katharine Jefcoats

His dad and grandfather were law enforcement officers, but Graham Waldrop has his eye on life in the Army.

His dad, Alabama State Trooper Andrew Waldrop, is a special agent senior who attended the same trooper academy his dad did.

“As a kid in 1986, I remember watching my father graduate the Alabama State Trooper academy,” said Trooper Waldrop. “So, I grew up around the lifestyle. Little did I know that in 2005 I would graduate from the same academy and start my career as an Alabama State Trooper. “I love being able to help people out in some of the most difficult times of their life.”

Graham in his younger days, with his father

Trooper Waldrop, 49, has served his community in law enforcement for almost 30 years, 19 of which were spent as a trooper. His son’s military interest stems from participation in his high school’s ROTC program. First, though, he wants to learn construction science.

“While I am studying building construction science, I am also in Army ROTC,” said Graham. “This means that when I graduate college, I will be an officer in the Army. I plan on using my degree and eventually becoming an engineer officer, and leading engineers. The minimum number of years that I must serve is eight, but I plan on making it my career and staying until I retire.”

Graham is pursuing his education at Mississippi State University in Starkville. To help pay for his degree, Graham applied for a scholarship through SSPBA’s Police Benevolent Foundation. Trooper Waldrop is a member of the ALPBA’s Alabama State Law Enforcement Officers Chapter, so Graham was eligible.

He said he was happy to win the funds.

Graham on the campus of Mississippi State University, with his scholarship check from PBF on display

“I am so grateful for this scholarship, as it will help me out greatly with trying to pay for college,” he said. “I also love seeing the support and services that this association has for law enforcement.”

Trooper Waldrop said he could not be prouder of his son.

“Graham maintained a very busy schedule in high school,” he said. “From his ninth-grade year to his senior year, he was involved in cross country, marching band, symphonic band, theater and choir while keeping a high grade point average.

Graham and his dad at his high school graduation

“He is now attending Mississippi State and enrolled in the ROTC program,” Trooper Waldrop continued. “Graham is majoring in building construction science and minoring in military science. After graduating college, he will be seeking a commission as an officer with the U.S. Army. I’m looking forward to what he accomplishes in the future.”

Although Graham didn’t choose law enforcement as his profession, he said he learned that his dad’s own traits can carry over into the career he wants to carve out for himself.

“I’ve come to respect and admire the devotion, courage, skill and leadership that people in law enforcement have,” he said. “It’s the little things we do now that can shape or completely change our future for the better.”

Graham also learned determination, dedication and perseverance from his dad’s experience in the trooper academy. He said he always heard that the Alabama Trooper Academy was one of the hardest law enforcement academies anyone could go through. There was always an out for recruits, but Graham said his dad was steadfast in his goal, a trait he has embraced.

Graham Waldrop

“My dad explains that when they were out there running in the early hours of the morning, or doing wall sits for what seemed like days, people walked around with a paper saying, ‘You can sign this and go home,’” he said. “Dad tells of how he was just wanting to go home and see his family, but he knew that what he was doing would not only benefit his family, but the families around us.

“He says that even though at the time he could’ve gotten up, quit, and went home, he didn’t,” continued Graham. “He stayed and completed trooper academy, and that benefited us, and many other people in our community. Those stories of trooper academy and stories of real-life things that happened on the job teach me to never give up and never back down.”

The fear of losing his dad to the dangers of his career also strengthened Graham’s faith and resolve, which will serve him well through life.

“There have been very few instances that I have felt scared about my dad being in this job,” he said. “I guess it’s never really been an issue for me because he’s been in law enforcement all my life, and I’ve grown up understanding the risk and sacrifice that it takes.

“In the times that I have been nervous or scared, it has always been my mom, dad and my own faith in God that has gotten me through it. I remember times when my mom, sister and I would stand in the living room in a circle and pray over whatever my dad was about to go into. That always helped me greatly.”