For high school seniors or college students pursuing a major in criminal justice or law enforcement-related studies, there’s a scholarship available to offset tuition costs.

Anyone enrolled in a Suffolk high school and attending, or planning to attend, a Virginia college is eligible for the Virginia Sheriff’s Institute Scholarship program, which has awarded 69 scholarships totaling $53,300 to Suffolk students since 1994.

Suffolk Sheriff E.C. Harris touted the scholarships as a good way to offset rising tuition costs.

“I see tuitions rise at our community colleges and universities every year,” Harris said. “I sometimes wonder how our youth can afford to go to school.”

He said local recipients have performed internships at the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office before advancing in their law enforcement or criminal justice career.

“It’s great to see how they flourish and how they become productive citizens of the community,” Harris said.

The sheriff said Suffolk residents have contributed to the scholarship fund as a means to help out area students.

Students, if 18 or older, must be registered voters and provide a copy of their voter registration card. Those under 18 are required to provide a copy of a government-issued picture ID with their home address, providing proof of residency. Applications must also get a letter of recommendation from Harris to submit. The deadline for applications is May 1, and applications can only be submitted online.

“We encourage more people to apply,” Harris said.

For more information, contact the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office at 514-7840. The 2019 online application is available on the VSI website at vasheriffsinstitute.org by clicking on the scholarship link.