April 26, 2024

STORY: UNIVERSITY RELATIONS STUDENT JOURNALIST AMBER TAYLOR

HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY/COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC SERVICE

VINCENNES, Ind. - Amelia Huffman's path to Vincennes University was driven by a profound passion for law enforcement. From a young age, she harbored a desire to become a police officer, drawn to the idea of serving the public and bringing justice to those in need.

With VU's nationally-ranked Homeland Security and Public Safety bachelor’s degree program just a stone's throw from her hometown of Linton, Indiana, Amelia found the perfect university to pursue her dreams. Embracing the opportunity with zeal, the Dean’s List student has immersed herself in campus life, balancing her studies with fun student activities.

As a member of the VU Cheerleading squad, Amelia brings boundless energy and spirit to campus events. She fondly recalls the camaraderie and support she found within the campus community. From attending engaging events like Family Feud and the Spring Gala to participating in Operation Christmas Child, she cherishes every moment of her college experience.

Beyond the classroom, Amelia seized invaluable opportunities to gain real-world experience in her field through an internship with the Indiana State Police, providing her with firsthand insight, and further fueling her passion for public service.

As she prepares to embark on the next chapter of her journey, she has already secured a promising career opportunity in St. Petersburg, Florida. With a firm commitment to combatting issues like human trafficking and drug enforcement, Amelia envisions a future filled with meaningful contributions to her community and beyond.

Below, Amelia reflects on her VU experiences, shares her career aspirations, what makes her a Trailblazer, and more.

Why did you choose your career path? 

“I've always wanted to help people. I'm very big into helping the community and doing public service. I love being with people and I always have enjoyed being in the action.”

What are your career plans after graduation?

“I got a job offer from St. Petersburg, Florida, a few weeks ago, and I accepted it. I'll be starting there in June and I'll be starting the police academy. I'll take all of the knowledge I've learned here over the past four years and just heighten it for six months at the police academy. I’ll be training and learning all of what they have in their police department, and then hopefully after six months, I'll start working for the police department there. I would hope to work somewhere in human trafficking.”

What are your additional dreams and goals?

“Eventually, I would like to use this degree and go somewhere federal, maybe border security or the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). I'm big into stopping drugs and human trafficking. That is one of my main reasons for wanting to go into the field.”

How have you actively participated and contributed to campus as a student? 

“Well, I love this campus. I love the events we have. I always go to bowling nights and the silent disco that we've had the past two years was probably my favorite event we've ever had. I participated in Operation Christmas Child through Campus Christian Fellowship and the Conservation Club, and that was really fun. I love sending gifts to kids. I think that's just a great thing to do. I've really enjoyed being at all the events on campus and cheering and being at all the games. That was a good point of college for me. It was something to do and I met a lot of people through it.”

What would you say has been your most significant experience at VU? 

“Some of my professors have made a big impact on my life. Professor Lou Caprino, a retired FBI agent, has just been great in helping show me where I'd want to go and what I want to do. He's given so much experience and life advice. It's the same way with Conservation Law Enforcement Professor Eric Doane. I've taken two of his classes and they were very hands-on.”

Tell us about your internship with the Indiana State Police.

“Last summer I did an internship with the Indiana State Police. This was an internship that I found online and it turned out to be amazing. I worked 200 hours with them. Every two to three days, I would go on a shift with a trooper for at least 10 hours. We would arrest people. We would do field sobriety testing. We would help people. We even pushed a van one time. I got to see a lot and I got to serve a warrant! I got to see what everyday life is for a police officer or a trooper. It was just a really good experience. I felt like it was pushing me towards exactly what I wanted to do, even if it wasn't going to be here in Indiana. Also, meeting those people and them telling me how it is and being friendly to me made for some good references and I can use them for future jobs. I would recommend taking an internship for anyone not only in the Homeland Security program because it's required, but other majors, too. An internship is just the best thing you can do.”

What makes you a Trailblazer?

“I'm a Trailblazer because I push people to go to things. I push people in their studies. I always try to encourage people, especially people that I meet at on campus. I try to encourage the people in the two-year degrees to get their bachelor's degree here because I feel like getting your bachelor's degree is a big step in your career. For me personally, getting this degree, I'm going to go on and be able to get pretty much all the jobs that I would want because I have this degree. I'm trailblazing my own path going into law enforcement, and I am going to help people.”

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