On Monday, Laredo College announced that it received a $772,700 federal earmark secured by U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar towards the Homeland Security and Protective Services Academic Training Center. These funds will help provide additional resources and improve on the programs’ ongoing outstanding success as well as offer more opportunities for its students.
“Every day, we see students working toward careers that will make a real difference in the lives of others,” Laredo College President Dr. Minita Ramírez said. “Among them are future law enforcement officers, forensic specialists, emergency management professionals and homeland security leaders who will go on to serve communities throughout our region and beyond. We are grateful for the partnerships and support that help make those opportunities possible. Today’s gathering reflects a shared belief in the value of education and in the potential of the students who choose Laredo College as the place to begin their journey.”
As students learn more each day of class and are equipped with the knowledge needed to succeed in the field by highly experienced faculty members, these funds will strengthen the program to better serve its students and the community.
Students enrolled in the Homeland Security Studies Program take full advantage of state-of-the-art equipment and faculty members whose careers in law enforcement ensure that each new graduate steps into the field with a strong understanding of the needs and responsibility that come with it.
For example, through the course of their semesters, Forensic Science students utilize specialized lab equipment to find, preserve and identify fingerprints and other pieces of evidence on different surface materials. Through their experience, homeland security faculty strive to provide deeper insight into how to best find evidence that may very well help graduates in the field make the community safer for everyone.
This funding aims to build upon and update forensic lab spaces, training spaces, enhance the crime scene simulations spaces and further provide advanced investigative technology used by modern law enforcement professionals.