Keslynn Stevenson will never forget the days leading up to Thanksgiving 2024. While most students were thinking about holiday plans, she and her classmates were busy stacking boxes and cans to the rafters—nearly 2,900 food items in total.
As part of her Criminal Justice class at Canadian Valley Technology Center, Stevenson, a Mustang High School senior, played a key role in organizing a food drive that provided meals for 22 local families. The overwhelming success also allowed donations to go to on-campus food pantries and two local charities.
“Everyone deserves to have a Thanksgiving,” Stevenson said. “We made boxes for each class, made a list of things we wanted and, of course, made it a competition for the classes to help with donation numbers.”
Her leadership in the project is just one example of why she recently earned a full scholarship to the University of Central Oklahoma. There, she plans to double major in Criminal Justice and Forensics. She wants to join the university’s ROTC program to prepare for a career as an Army Military Police officer.
“I knew I wanted to major in something in the criminal justice field,” she said. “I knew this class would help me decide what my future would hold.”
The Criminal Justice program at CV Tech is one of its newest programs. It is designed to prepare students for careers in emergency response, including dispatchers, corrections officers, and security guards.
“This class will become your family, and you will look forward to coming to it every day,” Stevenson said. “You can be yourself here.”
Criminal Justice instructor Alicia Wright said her students learn important life skills throughout the year and that was certainly true during the food collection effort.
“Throughout the process, students focused on collaboration, work ethic, integrity, responsibility and leadership,” Wright said. “These are all evident in the fact that Keslynn has received such high honors.
“The project made me feel proud of my students, the campus and the district. We were able to serve so many people in the community. Giving back helps us to grow as people. Giving to the community is the reason I became a police officer and a teacher. “
