Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey A. Kincaid presented seven college scholarships from the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute (VSI) College Scholarship Program, June 10. Each student received a $1,000 VSI scholarship this year as they continue to pursue their studies in criminal justice.

The VSI scholarship program is available to Virginia students who are pursuing their education in criminal justice at a school within the commonwealth.

"It is such a privilege to present these young students with these scholarship awards," Sheriff Kincaid said. "Today, we honor more than their studies in the classroom of their various universities. We celebrate their potential, their courage, and their promise to use knowledge as a force for good."

Arely Solis Artola will continue her junior year at George Mason University in the fall, majoring in Criminology, Law and Society, with a minor in Forensic Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. This is the third year in a row that Artola has received this scholarship for her education, helping her complete a four-year degree, moving toward her goal of joining the FBI and working in their Victim Services Division.

Belleslyn Rios begins her sophomore year at George Mason University in the fall, majoring in Criminal Justice. During her high school years, Rios enrolled in criminal justice classes that allowed her to experience techniques such as investigating crime scenes and collecting fingerprints. It was these experiences that sparked the interest of this first-generation college student to pursue a criminal justice degree.

Jayden Vafier will be a sophomore at Virginia Tech in the fall, majoring in Criminology with minors in Psychology and National Security/Foreign Affairs. Vafier comes from a family of public service with members serving in the military, law enforcement and health care, which has inspired her to pursue a career in criminology. Through her own life experiences, she strongly believes there is a connection between mental health and public safety, which she is committed to improving systems related to both fields.

Magaly “Magy” Soto Valdez is passionate about pursuing a career in law enforcement. After graduating with an associate’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Northern Virginia Community College this past spring, Valdez will continue her studies in Criminology, Law and Society in the fall at George Mason University. Valdez has demonstrated leadership skills and her commitment to pursuing a career in law enforcement through completing an internship program with the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office and being involved in the Public Safety Cadet program with the Fairfax County Police Department since 2022. She participates in community events around the county deepening her understanding and appreciation of what it means to be in public service.

Alexa J. Veneros expects to graduate in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology, Law and Society from George Mason University. As she pursues this academic goal, she is also working on an accelerated master’s degree in Criminal Justice. When she was 14 years old, Veneros joined the Customs and Border Patrol Youth Law Enforcement program, where she held several leadership positions moving through the ranks ultimately achieving the rank of chief. She also recently completed an internship program with Homeland Security Investigations where she supported investigative efforts including collecting intelligence from open-source outlets for an active federal case. She is active in the Criminology Student association as the Web Chair where she produces marketing materials for activities, internships, and other announcements ensuring the criminal justice campus community is engaged with the association and is aware of opportunities available to them. Veneros’s is excited to use her education and experience to serve others and provide meaningful contributions to the law enforcement and intelligence communities.

Emily Wells is interested in pursuing a career as a forensic psychologist. She will be a sophomore at Virginia Tech in the fall double majoring in Criminology and Psychology. She says her sister helped inspire her interest in psychology by sharing her college textbooks. Wells then took this interest and enjoyed an AP psychology course in high school. Wells has balanced school and extra-curricular activities by participating in her high school rowing team and volunteering with the City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation since 2021. Most recently Wells volunteers her time at an animal shelter in Blackburn, Va., where she helps socialize cats.

Nathan Windsor will begin his senior year at Radford University in the fall where he is pursuing a major in Criminal Justice with minors in Crime Analysis and legal studies, as well as working on an accelerated path toward his master’s degree. Windsor has honed his leadership skills serving as president of his school fraternity. His passion for criminal justice began with coursework he took in high school. Windsor hopes to use his knowledge of interpreting crime data and identifying patterns to provide insights to crime prevention efforts.

Congratulations again to each of our scholarship awardees, and best of luck in the coming school year.

Are you interested or know someone who could benefit from this scholarship? Check out the program policies for the 2026-27 school year. Applications will be due May 1, 2026.