CJ department hosts Mock Crime Scene for high schoolers
High school students from all over travelled to Waynesburg Universityís campus to take part in the spring session of the Mock Crime Scene, Saturday, March 18. This event encompassed high school juniors and seniors who are interested in careers in the field of criminal justice or crime scene forensics.
A total of 54 high schoolers attended the event and took part in each of the informational stations.
The purpose of the event is to let the students get acquainted with hands on experience in their field of interest and help them see if Waynesburg University is a school that they want to attend to follow their career goals.
Throughout the morning session, there were a series of small 30-minute lecture-presentations, involving the conduct of investigations related to arson, bombing and firearms.
“Participants also received a familiarization presentation on Waynesburg Universityís laser shot firearms simulator in the CSI home,î”stated Mock Crime Scene Facilitator Kevin McClincy.
After a free lunch, the participants rotated through three table-top demonstrations. These demonstrations included learning the investigative evidence of arson, bombing and firearms. Students also had the opportunity to experience an introduction on judgement shooting with the laser shot simulator in the CSI House.
“Throughout the entirety of the event, the participants were accompanied by current criminal justice and forensic science students, which afforded them the opportunity to discuss at length the students’ experiences at Waynesburg and to answer any questions the participants may have had regarding Waynesburg University or the two hosting programs,” said McClincy.
Prospective students were not the only ones gaining valuable information at this event. Parents were also involved and participated in a one hour informational session followed by a few sessions that focused on educating the adults in the field of criminal justice.
The informational session included speakers, such as the Department Chairs of Criminal Justice Administration and Forensic Science programs along with students from both disciplines. The other sessions included information about latent fingerprints and the use of ultra violet light to detect evidence. Afterwards, the parents were offered to buy lunch in Benedum Dining Hall to experience the variety of food their child would be eating at the university.
“Parents of the participants were also taken on a guided tour of the Waynesburg campus by Admissions Office student ambassadors,” said McClincy. “At the conclusion of the event, participants received a commemorative t-shirt, certificate of attendance and also offered a guided tour along with their parents.”
The Criminal Justice Administration and the Forensic Science programs alternate hosting the annual Mock Crime Scene event each semester and usually attract 50-60 high school students interested in the field of Forensics and Criminal Justice each event.
At the conclusion of the event, the participants and their parents were asked to fill out a brief survey of their experience. The results of both surveys were positive in nature.