Ashlee Gilbert, Outstanding Criminology Major

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I cannot say enough good things about my experience with the Department of Sociology and Criminology. I have loved every second of my degree path. The professors have all been extremely kind to me, and I will certainly be leaving college with a breadth of knowledge. My favorite class thus far has been Juvenile Delinquency, where I got to learn specifically about the challenges juvenile offenders face and how to best address their needs in the criminal justice system. While at WKU, I have participated as Captain of the Mock Trial Team and was recently elected President for the 2021-2022 term. I have also served as a Peer Mentor for our Department for the last two years. My sophomore year, I received the opportunity to intern at the Logan County Attorney's Office, and I have continued to work there ever since. After graduation, I plan to attend law school with the hopes of being a criminal attorney one day. The skills I have learned while studying Criminology at WKU will undoubtedly equip me for a life of legal service in our criminal justice system. I cannot thank the faculty enough for imparting their knowledge onto me and for helping me remember why I wanted to be a lawyer in the first place: to pursue truth, justice, and fairness and to fight for those who are unable to fight for themselves.