Recent graduate Dajah Saul received the Sheriff’s Scholar award for the 2020-2021 school year, presented by Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman. The award is an annual academic scholarship awarded to a commendable local student as a contribution to their high education goals. In order to respect the dedicated commitment of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) community, OPSO gives first priority to relatives of OPSO staff, and then looks within the community at large for recipients. Saul is the daughter of Tracey Jefferson, OPSO’s Director of Sanitation, and Derrick Saul of New Orleans. 

This fall, Dajah plans to attend Loyola University New Orleans. She aspires to work in the fields of either clinical or forensic psychology or graphic design. “As a high school senior with many dreams, this scholarship is a wonderful opportunity that helps further my career goals, wherever they may lead me,” she said. “I will be making my parents and myself proud by carrying a scholarship like the Sheriff’s Scholar award into my new journey at Loyola University.”

In addition to the Sheriff’s Scholar award, Dajah was also recognized for several other accolades, including the Honorable Mention Regional Award from the Scholastic Art & Writing Contest, the Tulane University Book Award, and the National English Honor Society November Poetry Challenge. Saul was involved in several extracurricular activities at Dominican, including Mu Alpha Theta, Color Guard, Digital Graphic Arts, and Senior Book Club.  She was also the treasurer of the National Honor Society and the Engineering Notebook Officer of FTC Robotics Team #9637.

“I am very pleased to give the 2021 Sheriff’s Scholar award to a deserving academic candidate like Dajah,” said Sheriff Marlin N. Gusman, “The Louisiana Sheriff’s Scholarship Program is a great opportunity to invest in the promising futures of our local high school students. Dajah has a very bright future ahead of her at Loyola University.”

The Sheriff’s Scholar award is a yearly award granted to a local parish resident. Applicants must be permanent residents of Louisiana, and the scholarship must be used for higher education within the state. Qualities such as academic achievement, leadership, and character are considered in the selection of scholarship recipients.