SALT LAKE CITY – April 28, 2026 – The Utah 1033 Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the memory of Utah peace officers who tragically sacrifice their very lives in the line of duty, and to providing meaningful financial help for the families they leave behind, today presented its 2026 Leadership Awards to three students, all children of Utah peace officers. Each Award carries a stipend of $5,000 to be used for higher education costs and is given in honored memory of Utah’s fallen law enforcement heroes.
High school and college student dependents of Utah peace officers applied for the 2026 Leadership Awards by submitting an essay in response to a prompt asking them to discuss and offer potential solutions to polarized political and civic discourse in the United States. The winning students were selected on the strength of their essays and for the students’ demonstrated academic achievement and rigor.
The recipients of the 2026 Fallen Hero Leadership Awards are:
- Zander Browne; Zander’s father serves with the West Valley City Police Department
- Braden Buck; Braden’s father serves with the Utah Highway Patrol
- Jessica Markland; Jessica’s father serves with the UTA Police Department
“The Utah 1033 Foundation is incredibly proud of this year’s recipients,” said Utah 1033 Foundation president Dave Kaufman. “We know they will go on to do great things, and we look forward to staying in touch and hearing about their future successes.”
Each Utah 1033 Foundation 2026 Leadership Award bears the names of thirteen Utah peace officers killed in the line of duty since the Foundation’s inception in 2011:
- Master Officer Jared Francom, Ogden City Police Department
- Trooper Aaron Beesley, Utah Highway Patrol
- Sergeant Derek Johnson, Draper City Police Department
- Sergeant Cory Wride, Utah County Sheriff’s Office
- Officer Douglas Barney, Unified Police Department
- Officer Cody Brotherson, West Valley City Police Department
- Trooper Eric Ellsworth, Utah Highway Patrol
- Officer David Romrell, South Salt Lake Police Department
- Master Officer Joseph Shinners, Provo Police Department
- Officer Nate Lyday, Ogden City Police Department
- Sergeant Bill Hooser, Santaquin Police Department
- Officer Eric Estrada, Tremonton-Garland Police Department
- Sergeant Lee Sorensen, Tremonton-Garland Police Department
Zions Bank hosted the presentation of the Leadership Award program by The Utah 1033 Foundation on April 28, 2026 at the Zions Bank Founders Room in Salt Lake City.
“Heartfelt thanks once again to Zions Bank for hosting this year’s ceremony, and to our donors,” Kaufman said. “The Utah 1033 Foundation couldn’t perform its mission without their amazing generosity.”