Even as a child Hannah Hempel from Hartland, Michigan loved puzzles. She was captivated by finding the seemingly unrelated pieces and fitting them together to form a complete picture. Her knack for seeing how things connect and using critical thinking to make judgments on observations alongside a fascination with true crime made her a perfect fit for a career in forensic science, a field that relies on your attention to detail, problem-solving skills and desire for justice.
Hempel, a senior at Cedarville University, is majoring in forensic science and rounding out her preparation for a career in law enforcement with minors in criminal justice and neuropsychology. It was her academic programs that helped her secure internships with the Forensic Investigation Research Station and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Following her sophomore year, Hempel worked as a forensic science intern for the Forensic Investigation Research Station, a body farm hosted by Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. The experience allowed her to learn more about forensic anthropology by studying human decomposition and scientific applications of forensics at the body farm. She then participated in a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Collegiate Academy hosted by the Cincinnati FBI Field Office last spring where she learned about the inner workings of the FBI and its departments.
Hempel’s time at the Forensic Investigation Research Station was academically valuable, but she wanted a more interactive look into the world of law enforcement. It was this desire that led her to the Mount Rushmore State. As a Highway Patrol intern in Aberdeen, South Dakota, she discovered what a field in criminal justice is actually like.
“It was a good opportunity to see day-to-day police work,” said Hempel. “It’s not always like it’s depicted on TV, so I wanted to experience what real life police work is like.”
During the internship, Hempel experienced the routine life of an officer as it relates to time in patrol vehicles and filing reports, but she was also given the chance to be a part of some unusual opportunities. Hempel participated in SWAT team training and went with officers during some sessions on driver’s education.
Hempel also aided in an aerial operation with police in Sioux Falls, helping track down suspects in a car chase from a Cessna plane.
The internship also allowed Hempel to practice living in a new location and build new relationships — another valuable life experience. Hempel noted how her rigorous course schedule prepared her to balance her time and develop the skills she needed during her internships.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist university with undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduate programs. With an enrollment of 6,384 students in 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, such as their forensic science major, and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.