- Name:
- Rebecca Gerard
- Major:
- Criminal Justice
- Year:
- Senior
- Home:
- West Bend, Wisconsin
I appreciate the professors and opportunities provided through the criminal justice department at UWP. Platteville is known in the field of criminal justice for the program offered here, which makes graduating with a criminal justice major from UW Platteville very impressive. There are a wide variety of great work-related internships available, too.
College is a wonderful opportunity to get away from home and experience life as an adult, while still having support of friends, professors and advisors to turn to. College is different than high school and living with your parents. I think Platteville is great college for this transition.
This past summer, I interned with the Homicide Review Commission (HRC) with Milwaukee's Criminal Investigation Bureau. This was an incredible internship and I would never been offered a position like that if I wasn't a criminal justice student here. The HRC is a multi-level review committee that examines all aspects of homicides that occur in the City of Milwaukee. I had many substantive responsibilities and got to meet people from many different law enforcement fields. I worked with the Captain of Detectives of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, and many homicide detectives. I also met and worked with a homicide and sexual assault trial judge, observed a homicide jury selection and trial, worked with several prosecuting attorneys from the D.A.'s office, and met the Assistant District Attorney of Milwaukee County. I worked with medical assistants of the Medical Examiner's office and observed their examinations and responsibilities.
With the available activities and groups provided on campus, there are many ways to be involved outside of the classroom. Although I am not a music major or minor, I was the Drum Major for the Marching Pioneers for three years, played bassoon in Wind Ensemble and Orchestra and played tenor saxophone in Pep band. I found these extra activities to be very enjoyable and relaxing. Being involved in music allowed me to take my mind off school and have fun. I've meet a lot of good friends within the music department all because of my interest in music.