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Virginia Sheriffs' Institute
Supporting Virginia’s Sheriffs & Deputies

2024-25 Scholarship Program Policies

To access the online 2024-25 Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute scholarship application, please click HERE.

  1. Eligibility:
    A. Students must be a permanent resident, and if over 18 years old, a registered voter, in a Virginia county or city where their sheriff is a member of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute (VSI) and has authorized the VSI to conduct a direct mail special appeal to raise funds for the scholarship program.
    B. Students, 18 and older, must be registered Virginia voters and provide a copy of their voter registration card. Students under the age of 18 are required to provide a copy of a government issued picture ID with their home address, providing proof of residency.
  2. Applications will be available on  the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute website by January 31, 2024.
  3. Applications must be submitted online with all required documents and information by May 1, 2024. The deadline will be strictly adhered to.
  4. Two types of scholarships will be awarded, one to full-time students and one to part-time students. All the scholarship awards to students will be consistent, i.e. all check amounts will be the same, depending on the type.
  5. Only majors in the criminal justice field will qualify for a scholarship. Those majoring in law or pursuing a career as a lawyer will not be considered a criminal justice major.
  6. Only students attending Virginia colleges and universities for the 2024-25 school year will be considered.
  7. Applications must be completed online and electronically signed, or the student will not be considered.
  8. Certificates of award will be mailed to the individual sheriffs’ offices by the end of May 2024.
  9. After verification by the students of chosen college/major, checks will be made payable to the educational institution indicated on the application. College or university student IDs will be required to issue a scholarship check.
  10. Letters of rejection will be mailed to students directly from the VSI office.
To access the online 2024-25 Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute scholarship application, please click HERE.