The Criminal Justice Department will host their annual CJ Honors Day this Thursday, April 28, in order to recognize more than 100 of its gifted students, staff, faculty and friends while also in celebration of the organization itself.
The daylong celebration is made up of three events, each designated to recognize key members that have propelled the department forward. An invitation only leadership luncheon will kick the day off and will pay homage to those who have led the department over the past year.
At 1:30 p.m. there will be a sundial ceremony, hosted at the CJ building entrance, which will honor all the professionals who work in criminal justice fields that have lost their lives over the past year.
The day culminates with the Criminal Justice Honors Convocation, which will be held in Killinger Auditorium at 7 p.m. and recognize the outstanding students that make up the department. Criminal Justice Publications Officer Beth Kuhles said there are an ample amount of scholarships and the department will introduce several new scholarships.
“This year, more than 100 scholarships will be presented, including two new offerings from the Institute for Forensic Research, Training and Innovation, and the Dr. Vincent Webb CJ SHSU Online Scholarship,” Kuhles said. “The ceremony will also recognize 165 CJ Honors students, those earning a GPA of 3.67 or higher.”
The closed leadership lunch will feature specific awards as well.
“At the leadership lunch, the college recognizes a Distinguished Alumnus, a Defensor Pacem and its student organizations,” Kuhles said. “This year’s Distinguished Alumnus is Dr. Hongwei Zhang, class of 2004, a professor in the College of Humanities at Jinan University in Zhuhai, China and Director of its Juvenile and Family Law Research Center. The Defensor Pacem is Rissie Owens (’80), former Chair of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole.”
The awards ceremony isn’t just a celebration for SHSU students. Since the CJ program is recognized nationally as a top tier organization, its awards are prestigious. The College of Criminal Justice is nationally ranked as number one in faculty publications and number three in online graduate programs.
“As one of the most established, largest and most prestigious criminal justice programs in the country, the College of Criminal Justice continues to set national standards in the field in both research and practice,” Kuhles said. “The College offers a wide variety of degree programs and certificates in criminal justice and criminology, forensic science and security studies.”
The daylong celebration comes right at the end of the semester, although before finals the CJ department has one more event that will take place on Wednesday, April 27.
“The College of Criminal Justice will celebrate Awards and Recognition Week, which will also include a Book Talk, Honors Day and other activities for CJ students,” Kuhles said.
CJ Honors day will kick off to the public at 1:30 p.m. with the Sundial Ceremony held in front of the CJ building.
