By MICHAEL HAWKINS
For the Muleskinner
(COLUMBIA, Mo., digitalBURG) —

Criminal justice students competed last weekend in the American Criminal Justice Association – Lambda Alpha Epsilon Regional Competition in Columbia, Missouri.
Gamma Epsilon Delta, UCM’s gender-neutral criminal justice fraternity, has a history of placing well in all aspects of competition, which includes tests or tasks in academics, firearms, physical agility, a mock crime scene and a poster competition. GED continued their streak of more than a decade of dominance, obtaining their 14th consecutive regional championship, which is a sweepstakes award given to the chapter who obtains the most trophies overall during the competition. Nine states encompass region three, and GED took home more than 50 percent of the trophies. The GED chapter also had the largest participation, with 60 percent of the students and professional staff gaining awards.
“We’re proud of these students, and especially proud at the broad range of skill and knowledge displayed between all of them at the conference,” said Greg Etter, associate professor of criminal justice. “We seemed to have a strong hand in every category.”
The GED chapter is backed by a supportive team of advisers, including Etter; Sherri DioGuardi, assistant professor of criminal justice; Richard Gillespie, retired UCM Department of Public Safety major and adjunct of criminal justice; Roger Pennell, a retired professor; and Tony Gasaway, assistant professor of criminal justice. The advisers guide the students to become well-rounded learners and to extend their knowledge and networking opportunities beyond the classroom and immediate campus. Scott Chenault, former president of the GED chapter, also assisted students in competition preparation, offering guidance through early morning workout sessions for physical agility participants in the weeks preceding the competition.
Next up, GED is competing for the national championship in the spring in Sacramento, California.