Southampton Town Police Explorer Attends Harvard University Summer Program

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - One of Southampton's own is making her hometown proud.

Southampton Town Police Explorer Sergeant Ashley Simons attended the elite Harvard University summer program last week.

Ashley applied with 4,100 other applicants worldwide and was one of only 269 students chosen, a release said.

Out of those 269 students, she was chosen to participate with 16 other students in an Apple Software Development Program that can be applied to cybersecurity, anti-hacking software, and computer investigation skills.

Ashley, police said, is one of the original members of the Southampton Town Police Explorers, which began in September, 2014. She manages a full academic and sport schedule, studies Chinese, volunteers at her local library, serving and assisting veterans, and volunteers and assists her church.

Ashley, police said, is one of many "outstanding students" that participate in the Explorer program and takes on many responsibilites within that program, such as establishing and maintaining the Southampton Town Police Explorers Facebook page, creating bumper stickers for fundraising, and arranging a coat drive last winter.

Besides the bi-monthly meetings, Ashley regularly attends community functions with the police department, a release said.

"Ashley has shown her dedication to her studies and the Explorer Program and her innovative ideas have helped expand the program and raise valuable funds needed to continue the Southampton Town Police Explorers. We are all very proud of Ashley’s accomplishments and have no doubt this young woman will continue to do great things," police said in a release.

For additional information on how to join the Southampton Town Police Explorers contact
Lt. Susan Ralph at sralph@southamptontownny.gov or call 631-702-2247.