On Tuesday evenings at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the future is being shaped: one conversation, one challenge, and one courageous step at a time.
Inside, 25 young women gather in a space where growth is supported, and the encouragement is steady, and in turn, is creating confidence that is quietly taking root.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Female Blazer Academy is in session.
What’s happening here reflects a shared commitment from Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons, Chief of Staff Whitney Lucas, and a dedicated team of female leaders within the Sheriff’s Office; all of whom believe that investing early and creating space for young women ages 13 to 15 to discover their strength isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Standing alongside that mission is Florida Blue; not simply as a sponsor, but as an engaged partner, helping ensure this work continues to take hold in meaningful ways.
Since launching the female edition of the Sheriff’s Blazer Academy in August 2023, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has created something both structured and personal.
Each Tuesday during the academy, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 25 young ladies gather to participate.
Each session is designed to build life skills rooted in S.T.A.R.S.: being Strong, Trustworthy, Accountable, Resilient, and ultimately, Successful.
The format is hands-on. It’s real. And from my observation last Tuesday evening, it is practical.
Through role-playing scenarios and guided discussions, these young women practice the interpersonal skills and confidence they’ll carry into their classrooms and their careers.
Sheriff Chip Simmons welcoming the Female Blazer Academy students.And into their communities, as I was reminded in the first few minutes listening to the Sheriff open the evening’s academy.
They have been learning how to communicate, how to lead, and how to navigate challenges with clarity and courage.
And in details that speak volumes about the care and respect being shown by the Sheriff and his female leadership team, each evening includes dinner, each student will be fitted with dress attire for their graduation evening, and they will celebrate their completion of the program with a graduation ceremony and a fine dining dinner at Global Grill in Downtown Pensacola.
Chief of Staff Whitney Lucas shared, “We want to honor how far they’ve come during the academy and recognize their efforts.”
It’s an intentional strategy to build strength from the inside out, and it matters not just to the Sheriff and ECSO Blazer Academy leadership team, but also to Hong Potomski, Market President for Northwest Florida, and Leslie Moland, Senior Director of Regional Business Development for Florida Blue.
Leslie Moland, Senior Director of Regional Business Development for Florida Blue, leading a session on resilience in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Female Blazer Academy.This past Tuesday, the focus turned to resilience thanks to Leslie. She led the class in a conversation that felt both honest and empowering.
She spoke about the reality that challenges and stressful moments are part of every life, but so is the opportunity to grow through them.
Her message was simple, but it stayed with you: resilience is what allows you to bounce back faster and to move forward stronger.
She shared the essentials: compassion, mindfulness, and a growth mindset and encouraged the students to focus on what they can control, to take small steps forward, and to trust that those steps will build into something greater.
“Having the chance to play even a small part in this experience is an honor,” Moland shared. “This program is helping prepare young women to be confident and strong changemakers, and their willingness to do the work to grow and challenge themselves is inspiring.”
Confidence doesn’t always arrive fully formed. Sometimes, it’s built one brave moment at a time.
Whitney Lucas, Chief of Staff and President of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, invited each student to step forward at one point during the evening and share something that took strength in the past week, whether physical or mental.
It was a simple exercise. And a powerful one.
Because one by one, these young women stood at the podium and spoke. Not perfectly. Not easily. But honestly.
One young lady shared about the difficult choice to remain resilient after her uncle had taken his own life. The room quieted. She stood there, steady and vulnerable, bravely choosing to speak when it would have been easier not to.
And in that moment, something shifted. Not just for her, but for everyone listening, including me. Because courage like that has a way of making space for others to find their own.
For Sheriff Chip Simmons, the creation of the Female Blazer Academy was a natural next step.
“When we launched the Blazer Academy, we saw the impact it was having on young men in our community,” Simmons said. “It soon became clear that young women deserved that same opportunity. Expanding the program was about making sure we were reaching all of our youth—empowering them with confidence and resilience, while building trust across the board.”
The response has been steady and strong. The program is currently in its fifth year, and by this year’s graduation, approximately 125 young women will have completed the program.
Looking ahead, plans are already in place for a Female Alumni Academy in the summer of 2027, creating a pathway for continued growth and connection among graduates.
Programs like this don’t just happen, though. They’re built by people who care about the outcome.
From the leadership and planning efforts of Colonel Dawn Janes, General Counsel Debra Little, and Sgt. Jenna Coates, Recruiter Michelle Crutchfield, Community Relations Specialist Lisa Parrish, and Admin Assistant Pat Yvarra, to the instructors who guide each session, every piece has a purpose.
And then there are the partners who help make it possible.
“Programs like the Blazer Academy don’t happen by accident,” Lucas said. “They happen because of people and businesses like Florida Blue who believe in our youth and are willing to invest in their future. Our sponsors aren’t just funding a program; they are helping us build confidence, character, and connections that will shape these young lives for years to come.”
That belief is shared across the organization.
Hong Potomski, Florida Blue, Market President for Northwest Florida“The Blazer Academy is an example of how community leaders can come together to equip the next generation,” said Hong Potomski, Market President for Northwest Florida at Florida Blue. “I love that the program touches on all the aspects of being a healthy contributor to our community.
We are honored to support the Female Blazer Academy and appreciative of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Foundation for the thoughtful attention they put into making it a transformative experience year after year.”
What I witnessed last Tuesday was a room full of young women learning to trust their voice.
Leading that was Sheriff Simmons and his team of leaders, who understand that their role is to help shape what comes next for these young women.
And alongside them, a community healthcare leader stepping in and investing not just 
with resources, but time, presence, and belief in the long-term well-being of these young women and the community they will one day lead.
The Female Blazer Academy accepts 25 students per session.
For those interested, applications can be completed and submitted to Community Relations Specialist Lisa Parrish at lgparrish@escambiaso.com.
