NCPBA Scholarship Recipient Nicholas Ruff

May 8, 2024

By Katharine Jefcoats

As a student at Davie County High School in North Carolina, Nicholas Ruff was active on the sports field where he used his entire body in support of his teammates.

Nicholas Ruff playing lacrosse

However, in college, he is seeking a more fine-tuned, brain-focused career in computer science. To help him achieve his goals, Ruff was awarded a scholarship from the Police Benevolent Foundation, thanks to his law enforcement dad.

“Receiving the scholarship meant a lot,” said Ruff. “It has allowed me to not have to pay as much for school and be able to breathe easier, knowing it won’t be as expensive. It has helped me to be able to focus even more on school and my goals other than having to worry about finances. It has also allowed me to work less and provides time to become more involved with college activities on campus.”

Ruff attends the University of North Carolina Charlotte. He is the son of an educator, Christie Ruff, and a Davie County sheriff’s lieutenant, Shawn Ruff.

Nicholas Ruff and his dad, Shawn Ruff, a deputy with Davie County Sheriff's Office

“It has always made me proud that my dad is a police officer,” he said. “He is my hero. Every day he goes out to work, I worry. But then he comes home, and I know he was helping and saving people all day. I am very honored to be a child of a police officer.”

A 20-year law enforcement veteran, Lt. Ruff is also a member of the Police Benevolent Association’s Winston-Salem Triad Chapter. He started his career at Daytona Beach Police Department.

“I had known and been around officers when I was growing up,” Lt. Ruff said. “What I enjoy best is the freedom I have each day to do different things. One day it could be citizen contact or one day it could be training or traffic enforcement.”

In addition to influencing his son in a positive manner, Lt. Ruff said he knows he has made an impact on people he interacts with daily. He was surprised by at least one of those encounters.

“A memorable event is when a guy approached me in the store when I was off-duty and he recognized me and he told me that when I arrested him, I treated him with respect and that made an impression,” he said. “He said after that arrest, he started to turn his life in a better direction.”

Nicholas Ruff graduates from Davie County High School

Lt. Ruff said he is excited to see his son succeed and excel in his post-high school career. “I am proud of Nicholas,” said Ruff. “He has been a great son and student. I hope he takes full advantage of the opportunities at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning his computer science degree.”