Criminal Justice Student Griffith Takes Second at Regional SkillsUSA Contest
 
            With a shiny silver medal draped around her neck, North Point High School Senior Keyawna Griffith visited the Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s Headquarters recently to meet with Sheriff Rex Coffey, who congratulated her on her second-place finish in the criminal justice category at the state SkillsUSA competition held March 26 at North County High School in Anne Arundel County. An awards ceremony followed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.  
            During the competition, Griffith demonstrated her ability to conduct a traffic stop, search a room for bad guys and evidence, and respond to a loud-music complaint. Griffith competed in the state contest following her third-place finish at the regional SkillsUSA competition her high school hosted in February.
            “I’m very proud of Keyawna,” said Sheriff Coffey. “To place ahead of so many other students from all across Maryland is a testament to her motivation and talent. She represented the Sheriff’s Office, the Criminal Justice program and her school honorably.”
            Griffith began training for the competition earlier this year with more than a dozen other North Point students who participated in the regional SkillsUSA competition in February. In addition to attending the criminal justice class instructed daily by Cpl. Rhett Calloway, the students also trained with the officer and Evidence Technician Shelly Progovitz after school to prepare for the competition.
According to its website, SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It is a national non-profit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations like law enforcement, healthcare, culinary arts and welding.
            For more information about the criminal justice program, visit the Charles County Sheriff’s Office’s website, www.ccso.us, or the website for Charles County Public Schools, www.ccboe.com