Richmond, VA – The Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute (VSI) is pleased to announce the awarding of 102 scholarships to young people across Virginia pursuing a college degree in criminal justice while attending a Virginia college or university. Full-time students were provided $1,000, and part-time students were provided $500.
“This year’s scholarship program was a tremendous success because of broad financial support from citizens across Virginia that joined the VSI as associate members,” said Westmoreland County Sheriff C. O. Balderson, President of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute.
The Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by Virginia sheriffs that also provides training and education to the members of the Institute, including sheriffs and deputy sheriffs across Virginia, on issues relating to management, crime prevention, and other areas of public safety.
Citizens are eligible to become members of the VSI upon invitation from their local sheriff. “The sheriffs are the reason for the success of this program,” said John W. Jones, Executive Director of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute. “Currently, we have over 25,000 associate members of the VSI, and we are extremely proud of this as well as of our training and educational programs that help make Virginia a safer place in which to live.”