The mother and younger brother of slain King County Sheriff's Deputy Steve Cox are offering a scholarship in his name to a Highline district high school student interesting in pursuing a career in law enforcement or criminal justice.

JoAn Cox and Ron Cox offered the scholarship last year to Evergreen High students, but this year are extending the offer to students in any Highline district high school. The scholarship is privately funded but the family has received some donations, according to JoAn Cox.

Interested students should contact their school career counselor for more information.

Steve Cox, who was assigned to White Center, was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 2, 2006.

He attended Shorewood Elementary and Cascade Middle schools before graduating from Evergreen in 1978.

JoAn Cox said her son's goal since adolescence was to become a police officer. He even attended law school so he could become a better officer, JoAn Cox noted.

"Steve was so enthusiastic about being a police officer, he was always recruiting," JoAn Cox noted. "Education is a legacy of my family and how he pursued his career, so we want to continue the legacy,

"He was very passionate and he took great pleasure in feeling that he made a difference in White Center. This is a way for us to extend his passion."