The fifth annual Criminal Justice Roundup for Scholarships fundraiser is returning to the Rend Lake Resort next month to raise money for Rend Lake College students. The event is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17 in the Resort’s Conference Center in Whittington.
During the fundraiser, several speakers including student scholarship recipients and donors will address the audience about current events in the program. Students, family, friends, and patrons are invited to partake of hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar throughout the evening.
Event organizer Ron Meek, RLC Criminal Justice Associate Professor, said the evening will focus on how far the program has come in the last five years, thanks in part to the success of the Roundup for Scholarships event. Last year, the event raised several thousand dollars – enough to provide seven scholarships to students this academic year.
“Rend Lake College’s Criminal Justice program has really seen several major improvements over the last five years,” said Meek. “We have our own shooting range on campus, which was built specifically for our students’ benefit. We’ve also expanded into cyber forensics with classes and two certificate programs to get them ahead of the pack in the workforce. Plus, we’ve developed an agreement with Missouri Baptist University where our students can receive their Bachelor’s Degree while taking classes at RLC.”
Meek said he plans to expand on the program’s evolution more during the event.
Annually, the evening brings in funds for students from individual donors, local law enforcement agencies, college faculty and staff, and many others. Last year, the program received a $1,000 donation to the Roundup for Scholarships Fund from Jefferson County State’s Attorney Doug Hoffman and the county’s Drug Forfeiture Fund, which is money collected from perpetrators of crimes. Hoffman will be among the speakers at this year’s event.
The cost to attend the fundraiser is $25. Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Ron Meek at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1239 or[email protected].
