Amber Sims to Receive Outstanding Student Leadership Award at Honors Convocation
Amber Sims will be honored with the Outstanding Student Leadership Award at Honors Convocation and will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree on Saturday, May 17. The Outstanding Student Leadership Award is presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence leadership skills and provided service to the GMercyU community. The selected individual has serviced in both elected and non-elected positions across a variety of co-curricular activities.
Amber has been a dedicated member of the GMercyU community since her first day on campus. She was a student-athlete on the Field Hockey team for three years, serving as the team’s representative in Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and then later the Secretary. In SAAC, Amber took meeting minutes, organized the Thanksgiving Food Drive, and collaborated with the Student Government Association (SGA) to collect canned goods during the Battle of 309. As a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Amber served as both Co-President of Events and the Chair of Events, helping to organize events like “Letters of Luck and Love,” assisting in the cornhole tournament at Red & Gold Day, and setting up and speaking at multiple induction ceremonies.
Alongside several classmates, Amber took the lead in reestablishing the Criminal Justice Association (CJA) and was later elected President. During her time as President, Amber arranged a tour of Eastern State Penitentiary; organized several fundraisers; hosted Firearm Safety Forums; hosted a non-violence table during Work for Justice Week; hosted a career fair and panel; and coordinated a trip to a shooting range in April 2025. Amber became CJA’s representative for SGA.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, Amber was nominated to become Secretary of SGA, where she took meeting minutes and took charge of the Positivity Committee, helping to create Student Appreciation Week, formerly known as Student Appreciation Day. As an SGA member, Amber took the lead in coordinating raffles for several events. She was later voted in as Purchasing Treasurer. In fall 2024, Amber led multiple groups and departments in the coordination and execution of Griffin Madness.
Amber was the Secretary of Beyond the Books, where she took meeting minutes, volunteered at events like “Blind Date with a Book,” and manned a table at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. She is also a member of Sigma Phi Sigma, Student Activities Committee, and the Black Student Union, and serves as a Griffin Ambassador in Admissions.
In addition to her leadership positions, Amber completed numerous service opportunities with many of GMercyU’s clubs and organizations, such as a canned food drive for Thanksgiving and Red & Gold Day, putting together Easter Baskets, and making blankets with Integrated Studies. She also volunteered to assist with Casino Night, Finals Study Night, and the Gwynedd Gala, to name a few.
Outside of her campus involvement, Amber completed an internship at Montgomery County Detective’s Bureau in the Special Services Unit. She worked with Intelligence Analysts to assist in investigations of active cases, facial recognition, watch surveillance, created “Wanted Person” bio sheets, and completed a Social Media Sponging for any Threat Assessment. Amber had the opportunity to observe a courtroom setting to sit in on active trials open to the public and toured the Department of Homeland Security’s Digital Forensics Unit.
Under the direction of Criminal Justice Program Coordinator Dr. Patrick McGrain, Amber completed research on topics such as drug administration and legality for a new edition of a textbook, set to publish in the near future. She also completed research during her senor year on the effectiveness of privately funded halfway houses on recidivism rates. The project consisted of nine interviews, three of which were employees from the Cumberland County Private Halfway House and four of which were employees from the Schuylkill County Private Halfway House, to gain perspective on the residents and operations. The remaining two interviews were from Pennsylvania Parole Officers to gain insight on the correctional system and how privately funded halfway houses have an effect on rehabilitation and reentry. Amber presented her findings at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference in April.
Amber hopes to continue her understanding of criminal intelligence to establish a career in intelligence analytics to aid in investigations at the county or state level.