After competing in March, three criminal justice students at Lamar Consolidated High School have advanced past the state Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) competition and will advance to the national level in June—a first for both LCHS and for Fort Bend County!

The students—Darienne Cornell, Malenda Sacaza and Winona Vo—advanced by competing and beating 21 other teams from across the state of Texas. Their instructor, Dr. Fred Guess, teaches criminal justice at LCHS and had 27 LCHS students competing through their SkillsUSA Criminal Justice Chapter 3696. SkillsUSA is a national program that helps students at the high school level identify and focus on specific job skills for various careers, providing information, instruction, and competition for workforce preparation that also helps build character.

Visit Skillsusa.org for more information on the 2010 competition.

Through the LCHS Criminal Justice program, the students received classroom instruction, but they also benefited greatly from the support and tutelage of the Richmond and Rosenberg police departments. In the program, students learn skills such as evaluating a crime scene, handcuffing and how to handle a felony traffic stop. The three outstanding LCHS students will compete at the 46th annual, June 20 through June 25, in Kansas City, Mo.

Fifty-seven years of Excellence continues for LCHS. Congratulations to LCHS and Fort Bend County!