Inver Hills students excel at 2024 ACJA–LAE National Conference in Texas
Students in the Beta Sigma Omega Lambda (BSOL) Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association–Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE) at Inver Hills Community College turned in outstanding performances at the 2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference in Grapevine and Southlake, Texas, in mid-March. Located in ACJA-LAE Region 6, the BSOL chapter took home the conference’s prestigious Trailblazer Award and Sweepstakes Award.
Ed Hemmelman III, Inver Hills 2015 Criminal Justice alumnus, won the conference’s Top Academic Award. The ACJA-LAE has 69 active chapters in six regions across the United States. Region 6 alone has eight chapters.
Leslie Palmer, PhD, serves as faculty in the college’s Criminal Justice and Culturally Responsive Professional Peace Officer (CRPPO) programs. Leslie has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Service Leadership with a Criminal Justice Specialization and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Criminal Justice from Capella University as well as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminal Justice and Corrections from St. Cloud State University. She serves as faculty advisor for the college’s BSOL chapter.
“When I started at Inver Hills in 2012, Criminal Justice students wanted a club with a purpose,” Leslie said. “They wanted to better themselves with activities focused on the field of criminal justice. In early 2013, a small group of students and I joined the ACJA-LAE and formed a chapter called Beta Sigma Omega Lambda, or BSOL. Since that time, our group has participated in every conference, both regionally and nationally, offered by the ACJA-LAE.”
Leslie added that BSOL has won more than 100 trophies in ACJA-LAE Academics, Firearms, Physical Agility, and Crime Scene Investigation competitions and has historically ranked as one of the highest-performing two-year college chapters in the entire national association.
“The conference experience can be life-changing for our students,” she reported. “They spend numerous hours preparing for ACJA-LAE conferences—and it shows. I’m so proud of our BSOL students and the leaders they are!”
Beta Sigma Omega Lambda (BSOL) Chapter
2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference Award Winners
Corrections Exam
1st place: Cori Evans (Lower Division)
2nd place: Cody Asher (Lower Division)
2nd place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus (Professional Division)
Criminal Law Exam
3rd place: Tessa Volkmer (Lower Division)
1st place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus (Professional Division)
Juvenile Justice Exam
1st place: Cori Evans (Lower Division)
3rd place: Warren Xiong (Lower Division)
1st place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus (Professional Division)
Forensic Psychology
2nd place: Cori Evans (Lower Division)
2nd place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus (Professional Division)
Police Management
1st place: Cori Evans (Lower Division)
2nd place: Warren Xiong (Lower Division)
1st place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus (Professional Division)
Homeland and National Security
1st place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus (Professional Division)
ACJA-LAE Knowledge
1st place: Cori Evans (Lower Division)
2nd place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus (Professional Division)
Firearms (Individual)
2nd place: Alex Cheng (Lower Division)
Firearms (Team)
2nd place: Ed Hemmelman, BSOL alumnus, Mike Collins, KCC Chapter, and Stu Hamblen, TAO Chapter (Professional Division)
3rd place: Adrian Sanchez, BSOL Chapter, Alex Cheng, BSOL Chapter, and Troy Cochran, DKE Chapter (Professional Division)
Talent Competition
1st place: Cheerleader: BSOL Student Members: Adrian Sanchez, Alex Cheng, Cody Asher, Cori Evans, Debbie Wallen, Ruby Sandberg, Terry Yang, Tessa Volkmer, Warren Xiong, Ed Hemmelman, BSOL alumnus, Dr. Leslie Palmer, BSOL faculty advisor
SPECIALTY AWARDS
Top Academic Award
Ed Hemmelman, BSOL Alumnus
Awarded to the individual who had the highest combined point total on all seven academic exams.
Trailblazer Award
BSOL Chapter
Awarded to the collegiate chapter who had the highest trophy point total based on the number of members in their chapter partaking in the conference.
Sweepstakes Award
BSOL Chapter
Awarded to the collegiate chapter who had the overall highest trophy point total of the conference.
BSOL Student perspectives…
Cori Evans
Criminal Justice Major
BSOL Lead Chapter Officer
Student Senate Communications Director
Student Ambassador
PTK Honor Society
Inver Hills Community College
Age: 20
Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Current residence: St. Paul Park, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: South Washington County Alternative High School, Class of 2021
Major and degree earning at Inver Hills: Criminal Justice Transfer Pathway A.S.
Extracurricular activities and clubs at Inver Hills: Beta Sigma Omega Lambda (BSOL) Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA) Lead Chapter Officer, Student Senate Communications Director, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Inver Hills planned graduation date: Spring 2024
Transfer plans after Inver Hills: Transferring to Bemidji State University to complete B.S. in Criminal Justice with Emphasis on Corrections and Reentry
Career plans: Plans to work as a corrections officer with the ultimate goal of becoming a warden one day; possibly go into academia if the opportunity presents itself
Other degrees, diplomas, and/or certificates: Mental Health First Aid certification, QPR Gatekeeper Training certification
2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference awards
1st Place: LAE Knowledge (Lower Division)
1st Place: Juvenile Justice (Lower Division)
1st Place: Corrections (Lower Division)
1st Place: Police Management (Lower Division)
2nd Place: Forensic Psychology (Lower Division)
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
FAST-PACED
Cori Evans • Q & A
What are your primary duties as BSOL lead chapter officer?
My primary duties as lead officer are planning meetings, marketing, engagement, communications, and helping all conference attendees get prepared for the conference! Basically, a little bit of everything and being Leslie’s right-hand man!
What was your favorite competition at the 2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference?
My favorite part of the conference this year was actually a whole day! On Tuesday, we had crime scene investigation workshops run by local police departments and a keynote panel on female serial killers! It was super-interesting and such a good experience!
What is your favorite memory from the 2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference?
My favorite memory from this year’s conference was at the closing banquet awards ceremony when we won the Sweepstakes Award! This was the first time in 21 years that a chapter other than GED has won the award! I am so proud of our group for accomplishing this!
Three words that describe you as a college student:
BUSY. AMBITIOUS. OUTGOING.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the corrections field?
For as long as I remember, I have always wanted to be in a public service job. I have a family member in law enforcement who I look up to, and he made me want to go into this field. I settled on corrections when we toured the Dakota County Jail, and I just got this feeling that was telling me that I belonged in the profession. I hope to make positive impacts on people’s lives and help them realize that they are more than the system!
What advice would you give students thinking about majoring in criminal justice?
I would tell everyone that it’s a true dedication—and you have to want to do it. This program is amazing, and Leslie and all of the adjuncts I’ve had are absolutely amazing professors who truly want us to be the best we can be in our professional lives. It’s a lot of hard work, but is so rewarding at the same time.
Alex Cheng
Culturally Responsive Professional Peace Officer (CRPPO) Major
BSOL Chapter Member
Inver Hills Community College
Age: 22
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Current residence: St. Paul, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: Central High School, Class of 2019
Major and degree earning at Inver Hills: Culturally Responsive Professional Peace Officer (CRPPO) A.S.
Extracurricular activities and clubs at Inver Hills: Beta Sigma Omega Lambda (BSOL) Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE)
Inver Hills planned graduation date: 2026
Transfer plans after Inver Hills: Possibly Metropolitan State University
Career plans: Police officer, plans on starting his career as a patrol officer and eventually working his way up the ranks of a police department
Works 40 hours a week while attending Inver Hills
2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference awards
2nd Place: Firearms: Individual (Lower Division)
3rd Place: Firearms: Team (Lower Division)
One word that best describes your experience at Inver Hills:
TRANSFORMATIVE
Alex Cheng • Q & A
What do you enjoy most about belonging to the college’s BSOL Chapter?
I enjoy meeting everyone in the BSOL chapter. It is fascinating to hear about the various careers people are pursuing.
What was your favorite competition at the 2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference?
I enjoyed the physical agility competition at the conference. It pushed me beyond my perceived limits and allowed me to witness my true potential. After completing the challenges, I felt full of energy. The competition highlighted areas I need to work on, which will help me pursue my career goals. Overall, participating in all the competitions was a challenge, but I am glad I did it.
What is your favorite memory from the 2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference?
My favorite memory from the conference was the talent show. We were cheered on regardless of what we wore or did. The conference was fun and a knowledgeable experience without any unpleasant memories.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
ADAPTABLE. DILIGENT. CURIOUS.
What inspired you to pursue a career as a police officer?
My inspiration to pursue a career as a police officer is to assist the community I work with to improve the quality of life and make the city I serve more livable. I believe that I can make a positive and strong impact by protecting and serving my community, providing opportunities to save lives, and helping people make better decisions.
What advice would you give students thinking about majoring in law enforcement?
If you have decided to pursue a major in law enforcement, you are committing yourself to a profession that requires you to be held responsible and dedicated to your actions. Remember that you will be expected to uphold standards that may be challenging at times. However, by persevering and pushing yourself, you will be able to make a positive impact on society and keep striving towards your goals and dreams.
Inver Hills BSOL at 2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference gallery
View more 2024 ACJA-LAE National Conference photos by visiting BSOL on Facebook:
BSOL Chapter of the ACJA-LAE
Inver Hills Criminal Justice Student Organization
Learn more about the BSOL Chapter of the ACJA-LAE along with the Criminal Justice and Culturally Responsive Professional Peace Officer (CRPPO) programs at Inver Hills by contacting:
Leslie Palmer, PhD
Criminal Justice Faculty
Professional Peace Officer Education (PPOE) Coordinator
Criminal Justice Studies (CJS) Department
Inver Hills Community College
LPalmer@InverHills.edu
651-450-3619
Admissions Team
admissions@inverhills.edu
651-450-3902
866-576-0689
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