Celebrate the year behind us

The Criminal Justice Organization’s spring banquet 

The Texas A&M University – Kingsville’s (TAMUK) Criminal Justice Organization (CJO) will host its first banquet to honor senior members and promote its student organization. This banquet has been in the works for over a year and the officers are hoping for a good turnout. The CRJ banquet will be from 5 to10 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, at the Memorial Student Union Building Ballrooms. 

“Being the treasurer and one of the lead planners for this event makes me very appreciative for the hard work and determination of others,” Treasurer Isaiah Pena said. “I have personally witnessed the dedication of my fellow officers and seen how much this banquet means to them. Throughout the year I have seen many of our members aid in our events that we’ve had, such as the Fall Festival and Spring Fling and now to be able to award them with certificates for their hard work, just makes me so excited.” 

The CJO Awards Banquet has been in the works for just about a year and to get to this point it took a lot of involvement from not only the officers, but the committee and general members as well. 

“For me to take on this banquet, I feel like it’s very important, but it’s also just a really great opportunity that we haven’t been able to successfully pull off in the past year,” President Lilly Baird said. “It’s going to help us with many things, from outreaching to new students, and also just sending off our seniors into the start of their careers.” 

The banquet will be open to all majors with the hopes to get more of the student body involved. Individuals who attend will have the opportunity to indulge in finger foods and drinks. A photographer will also be in attendance, so students are encouraged to wear formal clothing. Speeches by guest speakers College of Arts & Science Dean Dr. Dolores Guerreo and TAMUK U.P.D Sargent Lonnie Brown will also be made during the banquet.  

Tickets are $10 during the time of presale which can be purchased online or through one of the officers until Sunday, April 24, or you can pay $20 at the door the day of the banquet. There will also be an auction with all proceeds going to the organization.  

“I decided to become a part of the decorating committee for the CJO banquet because I’d love nothing more than to express my appreciation for the members, as well as our guests in attendance through elegant and luxurious details,” Decorating Committee Member Celeste Del Villar said.  

Students interested in purchasing a ticket can contact Raymond Torres at raymond.torres@students.tamuk.edu or Isaiah Pena at isaiah.pena@students.tamuk.edu. For more information on how to join the TAMUK CJO, contact the club advisor at james.plank@tamuk.edu.  

To stay up to date with the CJO and their announcements, visit the following social media pages: 

Instagram: @cjtamuk 

Twitter: @CJTamuk 

Facebook: CJ Tamuk