FERRUM, Virginia, March 7, 2025 — Ferrum College’s criminal justice program hosted a SkillsUSA “Crime Scene Investigation” Competition at the Crime House on campus on March 7. Students from Franklin County High School and E. C. Glass High School visited the campus to participate.
The two high school groups competed to process a simulated crime scene, with tasks that included identifying evidence, measuring, photographing, and preparing a sketch. Team members had to demonstrate basic crime scene skills, such as lifting a fingerprint and packaging evidence.
“Ferrum College is proud to support the next generation of criminal justice professionals through events like the SkillsUSA competition,” said Ferrum College President Mirta Martin. “These talented high school students have demonstrated remarkable skill, dedication, and passion for service—qualities that are essential in this vital field. Now that they’ve experienced this hands-on learning opportunity, we hope to welcome many of them to Ferrum College in the future, where they can continue to develop their talents and pursue their career aspirations.”
Once all the evidence was collected, teams completed narratives, crime logs, and paperwork to present to the judges, who were members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office of Investigations.
SkillsUSA, a student workforce development organization, classifies the “Crime Scene Investigation” as a skilled and technical competition. It is aligned with the objectives of the competitors’ programs of study.
“Turnout today was really great, and it has encouraged us to think about more competitions in the future,” stated Dr. Carl Franklin, chair of the School of Business and Technology and program coordinator for criminal justice. “Ferrum College has had a long tradition of serving the community, and today’s chance to host the event is proof that the spirit still lives on.”
