Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The energy level was high at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's 32nd annual Criminal Justice Career Day on March 15 in the UWP Ullsvik Center. Hundreds of UWP criminal justice students, dressed in their very best, buzzed from one booth to the next interfacing with potential employers.

Wisconsin Division of Juvenile Corrections administrator Charles Tubbs noted, "It is opportunities like this career fair that make the UWP criminal justice program one of the best in the state."

Keynote addresses delivered by Tubbs and Chief Pamela Hodermann, of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Police Department, carried resoundingly similar messages about the new challenges that the criminal justice professionals face. "Criminal justice work is much more challenging today than it was years ago because issues are more complex; we have gangs, drugs, terrorists and violence to deal with," stated Tubbs.

"We need young people who are willing to make the world a better place by standing up for what is right, even if it means standing alone," continued Tubbs. Organized by the UWP Criminal Justice Association, the career fair featured over 80 criminal justice agencies. Students had the opportunity to speak with criminal justice professionals, network with criminal justice agencies and even interview for employment.

"The career day is an exciting event because it lets us get a feel for what our future job will really be like," noted UWP criminal justice student and career day organizer Jason Pollard.

UWP has the oldest criminal justice program in Wisconsin, with approximately 450 students on campus and 144 students online. Students graduating from the program have a high success rate working as police officers, state patrol, Secret Service and FBI agents, judges, lawyers, parole officers and probation officers.

Along with need for quality criminal justice professionals comes the need for student financial aid packages. UWP only has one criminal justice scholarship to offer prospective students. Funds are currently being collected to form a second criminal justice scholarship.

Those wishing to make a charitable contribution toward UWP criminal justice scholarships are welcome to contact UWP University Advancement director Alma Valencia at (608) 342-1031 or UWP Criminal Justice Department chair Joe Lomax at (608) 342-1621.

Contact: Jason Pollard, UWP Criminal Justice Association, (608) 342-1622, pollardj@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Jessica Groshek, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, groshekj@uwplatt.edu