[Clinton, N.C.] – Sampson Community College has a well-known presence in the community for turning out successful police officers, sheriff’s deputies, highway patrol officers and detectives in our region. For one SCC student, it was her own investigation at her high school that is paying big dividends for her career path.

Beverly Zuniga is enrolled in the Criminal Justice Technology curriculum at SCC thanks to guidance from her high school counselor. “I was always indecisive about what I would like to do,” Zuniga says. But I spoke with my high school  counselors and they told me Sampson Community College was a better option starting out because of the great opportunities without the price tag.

PHOTO: Zuniga studies under Assistant Chief of Police, Anthony Davis of the Clinton Police Department.

Zuniga said that thanks to federal financial aid, she is able to take classes like the one she takes today called Investigative Principles. This class teaches students how to exploit physical clues left behind after a crime has been committed. “I knew I wanted to have a career helping people,” she says. “One day we were talking about forensic science at school and that was it for me.” She says helping people avoid becoming victims and bringing criminals to justice is satisfying for her.

Thanks to SCC and its law enforcement training, the criminals in our area are finding a harder time getting away from the long arm of the law. “We are learning about computer crimes here,” said Zuniga. “We are learning how to check for and read fingerprints and match people up to them. It’s awesome!” All because she did a little investigating with her high school counselor about Sampson Community College.

Anyone interested in learning more about the SCC’s Criminal Justice Technology program, should contact Jennifer Wiley at 910.900.4054 or jwiley@sampsoncc.edu.

 

About Sampson Community College:  Sampson Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, located in Clinton, NC in Sampson County. The college offers many programs to include two-year degrees, college transfer, continuing education and workforce development options and early college education.