(Peru, Neb.) – Peru State College’s Criminal Justice Club, Kappa Omicron Rho (KOR), recently attended the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA) – Lambda Alpha Epsilon (LAE) Region 3 Conference October 19-22, 2023, in Hays, Kansas. 

KOR members had opportunities to compete in crime scene and physical agility competitions; written exams; and hear a speaker from the juvenile justice field.

Faculty members Stephanie Huddle and Shawn Sherman, instructors of criminal justice,sponsored the group of 10 criminal justice students who attended the annual event.

Huddle commented, “The regional conference provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to network with students and professionals from several colleges, creating stronger connections to their peers in the criminal justice field.” 

The following are the results of the various competitions and results in which students and faculty participated:

McKinley Cross – Upper Division
o Second place crime scene investigation
Misa De Abreu – Lower Division
o First place physical agility female 18-25
Anthony Hayes – Upper Division
o First place corrections written exam
o Second place criminal law written exam 
o Second place juvenile justice written exam 
Courteny McClintock – Upper Division
o Third place physical agility female 18-25
Jonathan Santiago – Upper Division
o Third place physical agility male 18-25
Karington Sims – Upper Division 
o Second place crime scene investigation
Emma Smailys – Lower Division
o Second place physical agility female 18-25
Maddison Wolfe – Upper Division
o Second place crime scene investigation 
Stephanie Huddle – Professional Division
o Third place juvenile justice written exam
o First place physical agility female 36 and over
Shawn Sherman – Professional Division
o Third place corrections written exam
o First place physical agility male 36 and over

Other students attending the conference included Molly Magill and Emma Stuckenschmidt. 

De Abreu, KOR Vice President, stated, “KOR did very well and placed in many different categories, and most importantly, we supported one another. We had the chance to talk with different law enforcement officers from departments in Kansas and learn more about jobs in criminal justice.”