(Joplin, MO) – Representatives from Arvest Bank donated $10,000 to the Criminal Justice Department at Missouri Southern State University on Thursday, June 25.
“We are very pleased to present this donation to Missouri Southern on behalf of the Arvest Foundation,” said Chad Evans, president of Arvest Bank. “We recently had the privilege to partner with the Criminal Justice Department to present a cyber-risk seminar in February.
“It was there we learned about a need for software and equipment upgrades for this department. This is a critical training program for our area – one of many that Missouri Southern provides to students – and the Arvest Foundation is proud to be a partner.”
Nearly 100 people from local businesses attended the February event, said Dr. Tim Wilson, chair of the Criminal Justice Department.
“It was a one-day seminar with representatives from the Treasury Department and banks talking about how they can protect themselves,” he said. “We had some of our students help run and monitor the event, and they also had the opportunity to visit with local businesses to explore internship possibilities.
“Out of that is how our relationship with Arvest began, and they asked about some of the projects we’re working on and ways we’re trying to make the student experience better.”
The department is known for its hands-on, state-of-the-art approach to preparing students for a career in criminal justice. The facilities include an indoor shooting range, two firearms simulation laser shooting systems, an indoor driving simulator, a mobile crime scene investigation vehicle, and a crime scene investigation lab with cameras that allow instructors to monitor the process.
“A significant portion of our program uses technology, and sometimes it becomes dated,” said Wilson. “Through this gift, we’ll be able to upgrade the technology currently used in our classrooms to enhance the students’ experience.”
The Arvest Foundation offers financial support to local organizations in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. The organization’s primary purpose is to support local organizations doing outstanding work to improve the quality of life in the communities the bank serves.
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