Tracy Eldridge, chief dispatcher for the communications department at the Rochester Police Department, is one of five applicants awarded a $10,000 scholarship by the Massachusetts State 911 Department.

She was chosen on a recommendation from the Massachusetts Communications Supervisors Association.

The money goes toward a national training course, which includes two trips to Colorado for Eldridge and two online portions of the class. On Aug. 15 Eldridge will start an online class component, which finishes one day before she flies to Colorado on Sept. 10.

After a six-day class, she’ll return to Rochester and start the second online component before returning to Colorado for another six day class on Oct. 22.

“I can’t wait,” Eldridge said.

The classes are designed to build upon the skills the attendants already have.

It’s a competitive scholarship program, and Eldridge said the MCSA chose applicants who have already put a lot into the community.

The application process requires basic information, but also asks for a history of experience, a letter of recommendation from an agency head, the reasons for wanting to attend, a self-evaluation, leadership traits, contributions made to public safety, career goals and where applicants see themselves in five years in regard to the emergency communications field.

With such an extensive application process, Eldridge is happy to be going.

“It’s a pretty big honor to be one of the recipients,” she said.

From the class, Eldridge wants to gain knowledge about technology changes as well as improve her ability to perform her job.

“I hope to learn how to better my skills as a manager,” she said.

This is not the first time Eldridge has taken initiative to learn how to be more effective at her job, and she knows how valuable taking the time to learn can be.

“I attend two conferences a year,” she said. “One on my own time, and one as the chief dispatcher. Things like this can only bring better information back to the comms center.”

The class comes at no cost to the town. The state 911 Department reimburses the municipalities that send participants and will also pay Eldridge’s salary while she is gone.

“Being able to attend things like this allows our center to become that much better,” she said.