When Jayden Scott walked across the stage earlier this month to receive her degree in criminal justice and minor in chemistry, she carried with her more than just her diploma. She also carried with her the memory of her late father, Deputy Sheriff Jason Scott, who was killed in the line of duty just 11 days before she was born.

               Deputy Scott, who served with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, was fatally shot in 2004 while responding to a domestic disturbance. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of serving as a deputy sheriff for only three years before losing his life while protecting those around him. Despite his short 24 years of life, a section of I-75 is named to honor his legacy.

               But the Deputy Jason Scott Memorial Highway isn’t the only marker of the deputy sheriff’s lasting legacy – Jayden Scott, his daughter, is proudly carrying it even further.

      Growing up, Jayden was surrounded by what she called her “Blue Line family,” as fellow law enforcement officers stepped in to support her and her mother in the years following her father’s death. Her stepfather, also a law enforcement officer who was shot in the line of duty and later returned to service, became a guiding influence in her life.

     “Since I grew up around law enforcement, I knew that this was the path I wanted to take. I wanted to be like my family and help people,” Jayden explained.

     Jayden’s path to graduation has been marked by perseverance and purpose. While still in high school, she worked with the Loudon County Dispatch Center, but she soon realized her calling was to work hands-on in forensics.

       “One day, while I was at dispatch, my dad’s first cousin, Sergeant Chris Jenkins, offered to help get a ladder off the interstate. He was killed in the line of duty. After these experiences and many more, I have become a strong woman who is determined to help victims in times of need. So, when I found a crime scene investigator while scrolling through the internet, I thought that could be my way of helping.”

       During her time at Tennessee Wesleyan, she added a minor in Chemistry to gain lab experience, preparing her for a career in crime scene investigation.

Through internship opportunities created through Tennessee Wesleyan University with the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Jayden logged more than 170 hours shadowing forensic professionals, including crime scene investigators, ballistic analysts, and fingerprint specialists. Those hands-on experiences solidified her desire and career goal: to become a crime scene investigator.

       “I know my dad and my cousin are looking down on me and cheering me on with every application I submit,” Jayden said. “I pray God places me exactly where I’m meant to be.”

      Now a proud TWU alumna, Jayden is applying to law enforcement agencies across Tennessee, determined to live out her family’s legacy of service.