The Monmouth University Police Department recently selected student Amanda Knaub for the MUPD Law Enforcement Award. The Criminal Justice major received a $1,000 check as part of her accomplishment, entirely funded by members of the department.
Yearly, MUPD asks professors in the Criminal Justice department to recommend students who have shown excellence in the classroom, to determine students deserving of the award. Those considered must be of junior or senior year status, pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice and have maintained a GPA over 3.0.
Chief McElrath, MUPD, facilitated interviews for the award.“In the interview, we’d normally ask questions related to career goals, as well as not only your involvement in the Monmouth University community, but their own community as well,” McElrath said.
Knaub’s GPA was a 3.977 at the time of her interview, according to McElrath. She was poised and confident during their conversation, and her ability to evenly balance her time between academics, sports and a social life was impressive.
“[Knaub] is a member of the university soccer team as well, and I give her a lot of credit,” McElrath said. “Keeping up with not only your academic schedule and academic requirements, but as well as your athletic requirements is not an easy thing… it’s not easy for a student athlete to accomplish all that.”
“This award means so much because it shows how all of my hard work, both on the field and in the classroom, is paying off,” Knauber said. “The fact that my professors think highly enough to nominate me for this award is an honor. I want to represent the criminal justice department in the best way possible and this is a piece of me doing just that.”
Knaub hopes to work in some form of federal law enforcement after graduation, she mentioned during her interview. “I am really interested in counter terrorism and intelligence work, so maybe one day I will be able to work in that field,” Knaub said.
Winning the MUPD award cemented the ideas for career aspirations that Knaub already had, she said.
“I have fallen in love with this field of study, and this award shows me that I am on the right track,” Knauber said. “The Criminal Justice field is constantly evolving and growing and I want to be a part of that sometime in the future.”
PHOTO COURTESY of MUPD
