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CJ Club participates in Polar Bear Plunge

By Kristen Ayres for The Yellow Jacket 2 min read

For the second year in a row, James Tanda, instructor of criminal justice, and students from the Criminal Justice Club jumped into the icy Ohio River to raise funds for the Special Olympics, on Dec. 8.

This year, the water temperature was 38 degrees with the wind being 39 degrees. There were a total of 20 participants from the criminal justice department who took the Polar Plunge, which is double the number of last year’s participants.

The event that is held to raise funds for the organization is the largest fundraiser for the Special Olympics in Pennsylvania.

The Criminal Justice Club is particularly responsible for helping with the Polar Plunge and the Special Olympics. Some of the members are certified as trainers and coaches for the Special Olympics and help the Special Olympics organization in Greene County.

“This is a great way to demonstrate commitment to help those in need,” said Tanda.

The criminal justice department connects the university’s commitment to service as the reason behind participating in the Polar Plunge.

Tanda himself has participated in the Pittsburgh Polar Plunge for the past six years, and he participated again this year alongside his students. Due to his experience with the plunge, he decided to bring that tradition to Waynesburg University.

“I participated in our inaugural plunge last year and the atmosphere, networking opportunities and camaraderie with my fellow Waynesburg students as well as law enforcement and other individuals that were willing and crazy enough to jump in the river in December for a good cause was extremely awesome,” said Todd Breninghouse, one of the students who took the plunge.

In addition to being able to follow the university’s commitment to service, students are also given the opportunity to interact with local law enforcement as they participate in the Polar Plunge.

“The event connects criminal justice students to law enforcement professionals throughout the region, as they are the biggest sponsor of the Special Olympics,” said Tanda.

Local law enforcement offices help to sponsor the Pittsburgh Polar Plunge.

The criminal justice department raised over $1,500 for the Special Olympics this year. The Pittsburgh Polar Plunge itself has raised over $1 million for the Special Olympics in the past five years.

In June, the Law Enforcement Torch Run will be another event that is held in order to raise funds for the Special Olympics.

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