WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Dec. 21, 2021 — West Liberty University students enrolled in the criminal justice (CJ) program, reached out to those in need this holiday season.
“Our Criminal Justice Society held a raffle recently to raise funds for victims of domestic violence. The raffle included a Yeti cooler bag filled with snacks, a CJ shirt and sweatshirt, and other Yeti merchandise,” explained Hannah Kern, who is an instructor in the CJ program and is the faculty advisor for the CJ Club.
The raffle brought in more than $800.
“Our students took the funds and purchased items to make over 40 care packages for the YWCA in Wheeling,” Kerns said.
Kerns is herself a graduate of WLU’s Criminal Justice program, earning both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree here on the Hilltop. A resident of Marietta, Ohio, she also worked Washington County, Ohio assisting those with substance abuse issues.
The holiday care packages included basic hygiene items like shampoo, body wash, feminine products, and fun items like fuzzy socks.
Members of the CJ Society include students Annalise Murphy, New Cumberland, W.Va.; Kali Adams, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Kiarra Pamer, Mogadore, Ohio; Ashlyn McCabe, Wheeling, W.Va,; Lucile Nelting, McMechen, W.Va. and Austin Gray, Wheeling, W.Va., who serves as the vice president of the society.
“As a student club we want to bring positive change, or inspire positive change, within the local community. Even if it is just community based and local, we are still trying to help make a difference in someone’s life,” added Gray.
“I chose criminal justice for several reasons and the first is because I want to bring about positive and impactful change to the world we live in as well and the criminal justice field as a whole. Another reason is that this field, this area needs leaders. In order to achieve positive change, we need leaders now more than ever,” said Gray.
“There are so many aspects of this major that I enjoy, and these things make me happy with choosing to major in criminal justice. Something I love about the program is how engaged the professors are with their students. The professors strive to make the education of every student within this program fun and well rounded.”
Gray plans on pursuing his master’s degree in forensics science to eventually become a forensics technician for the FBI.
“Ever since I was little, I have been obsessed with forensics. I also considered going into the corrections field as a back-up plan as there are a lot of issues within the system that need fixed,” he explained.
WLU offers both an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and an online master’s in criminology degree. For more information, please visit westliberty.edu/criminal-justice or contact the program director Dr. Keith Bell at 304-336-8376 or via email at keith.bell@westliberty.edu.