Criminal Justice Students Take Honors in National Competition

Fairmont State University criminal justice students took second place in a national competition, and an FSU student successfully competed for a national office during a March 2011 conference in Toronto.

Ann Bartolo, Temporary Instructor of Criminal Justice; Lennie E. Shaw, Chair of the Department of Social Studies and Temporary Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice; and Dr. Deanna Shields, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, traveled with seven student members of Alpha Phi Sigma, the international criminal justice honor society, to attend the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences annual conference. Shields serves on the Executive Board of Alpha Phi Sigma. 

The students participated in many activities and attended panels on human trafficking, cyber bullying and prison programs for “lifers.” 

The FSU team placed second in the national crime scene competition. Members of the crime scene team were Ashley Bourbeau, Joshua Brooks, Logan Markley, Rutheana “Miriah” Mills, Samantha Snyder, Kristen Thomas and Tammy Walker.

Rutheana “Miriah” Mills competed for the office of national vice president and won the election. 

“Her two speeches were professionally done and well received by the student attendees,” Shields said. “Our students also did an excellent job of campaigning for her throughout the three-day conference.”

Mills’ opponents were from the University of Nevada-Reno and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. She will serve a two-year term and will represent Fairmont State at the yearly business meetings at Alpha Phi Sigma Headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and at the two upcoming national conferences in New York City and Dallas. 

Alpha Phi SigmaCriminal JusticeAnn BartoloLennie E. ShawRutheana Miriah MillsDeanna Shields