- Name:
- Jared K. Napralla
- Major:
- Criminal Justice and Elementary Education
- Minor:
- Early Childhood Education
- Year:
- Senior
- Home:
- Montello, WI
When I was looking to attend a university after attaining my associate’s degree in police science from another college, there was only one university that kept coming up – UWP, because of its great criminal justice program. Thus, it only made sense to me to attend UWP because of the prestige of their criminal justice program and because UWP has a long, rich history as the first state teacher-preparation institution in Wisconsin.
The strengths of studying criminal justice at UWP is that the department is dedicated to offering me with the best possible education in criminal justice by providing me with a critical understanding of the total system of criminal justice and the society in which it functions. Furthermore, the faculty of the criminal justice department has always been there to answer my questions and has helped me in planning my career as a UWP student and beyond. They have gone out of their way to get to know me on a first name basis and say hello to me when I see them outside of class. Some of the professors who have really helped me are Joe Lomax, Ed Ross and Dale Kapla. They are definitely professionals in their field.
At the same time, the education (birth to age 11) course of study has prepared me to teach preschool, kindergarten and elementary school up through grade six. Also, the coursework has prepared me to seek out other opportunities in the private sector such as administrative jobs. The state-of-the-art on-campus children’s center and the pre-student teaching practicum is another strength of the education program. Some of the great School of Education faculty who helped me to see that the birth to age 11 course of study the right decision for me are Donna Wilmarth, Dale Henze, Linda Doser and Jodean Grunow.
While at UWP, I have had three notable experiences that I will never forget. My first experience is as an ESTEEM health peer educator and the editor of The Scoop. This has allowed me to provide UWP students and staff with innovative, inclusive and meaningful opportunities to foster healthy behaviors. This experience has also allowed me to work with the great staff at the Student Health Services and other on-campus departments, faculty and students.
My experience as a resident assistant in Morrow Hall has taught me to wear many hats. It has taught me to be an event coordinator, conflict mediator, a tutor, a caregiver, a first responder, and a role-model. I can take much of what I learned as an RA and apply it to my future endeavors.
The last experience I will never forget is a trip I took called the “Mississippi Experience” during one of my Winterim classes. During this trip I experienced things that cannot be experienced in any classroom. I learned to acknowledge and respect the differences in race and culture and what they bring to our society. The “Mississippi Experience” will promote positive behavior changes in any student who attends this trip.