July 12, 2023
Congratulations to the five winners of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute College Scholarship Program for Fairfax County residents majoring in the criminal justice field. Each full-time student will be awarded $1,000.
“We are very proud of this diverse group of students who have excelled academically and enriched the community through their extracurricular and volunteer activities," said Sheriff Stacey Kincaid. "We wish them much success in their studies and chosen professions.”
Duaa Chaudhry is a third-year student at George Mason University’s Honors Program majoring in criminology with a concentration in criminal justice and a minor in forensic psychology. She is also pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in criminal justice. She currently works as a police cadet at GMU, which has helped her gain experience in traffic control, effective radio traffic, communication and community outreach. She is also a paid mentor with the Mason Honors College, which has taught her about teamwork and resolving issues among a diverse and dynamic group of people. As a first generation American, a person of color, and the first in her family to pursue a career in law enforcement, Duaa wants to make her parents proud in light of all their sacrifices as well as make a difference in her community.
Allison Innerst attends George Mason University majoring in Criminology, Law and Society with a concentration in homeland security and minors in forensic science and forensic psychology. She met the Honors College requirements for graduation this spring and will pursue a master’s in forensic science with a concentration in crime scene investigation. In high school, she participated in the Virginia State Police Cadet program. At the age of 18, she was accepted into the U.S. Secret Service’s Pathways Program and has continued working up to a role in the Criminal Investigations Division. Her career goal is to use forensic science as a document analyst to assist law enforcement with bringing facts and neutrality to the courtroom. In addition to her academic achievements and work experience, Allison is a head volleyball coach in the Vienna Elite Volleyball Club. She also maintains fluency in seven musical instruments and is a judge for forensic debate tournaments at GMU.
Karisma Dixon is pursuing an associate degree in criminology and criminal justice at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). She is also enrolled in an advanced program at George Mason University (GMU) while she completes her coursework at NVCC. Her GMU major will be Criminology, Law and Society, and she expects to earn her bachelor’s degree in 2026. In addition to her academic studies, Karisma is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and participates in community service projects, including canned food drives and the collection of new and used books for child services offices. The project this spring is to create a video on the top 10 things that will help first-time college students better navigate the NVCC campus. Karisma also works as a receptionist and administrative assistant at a law firm, which requires strong organizational and communication skills.
Arely Solis Artola will attend George Mason University and major in criminology with a minor in psychology. Her career goal is to work in victim services at the FBI or a local police department. She is passionate about ensuring that victims, many of whom are Hispanic, receive justice and support. Arely assists her church regularly, providing youth services, which is intrinsically rewarding and has helped her build leadership skills. She wants to make a difference in the lives of the people she serves. Coming from a low-income household, Arely and her family have faced many challenges, but she is determined to overcome them through her education.
Natalie Heflin attends Virginia Tech with a major in criminology. As she explores career options, she is particularly interested in criminal investigations and has considered applying for the FBI’s internship program that is offered through Virginia Tech. Through her sorority, she has participated in community service programs, which she believes is a large part of getting to know the community and improving relations between law enforcement and community members.