Internship Gives Eagle a Taste of Law Enforcement
Alison Whitney
Mia Hamlin (’23) was drawn to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after hearing about the opportunities to build industry connections, our unique Global Security and Intelligence Studies program and the beautiful mountains surrounding the Prescott Campus. She is also minoring in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Psychology.
Experiencing Law Enforcement
Inspired by the crime drama series 24, which follows a fictional counterterrorist government agency, Hamlin knew she wanted to do the same thing. She is currently interning with the local Prescott Valley Police Department. Some of her typical duties include ride-alongs with officers or shadowing detectives.
“Usually there is a search warrant needing to be conducted, lunch to be eaten at Chick-Fil-A or something around town that needs to be checked up on,” she explained.
Hamlin says the atmosphere of the police department is typically jovial and welcoming. “I am always excited when I walk in and always looking forward to what the day has in store for me.”
She knows that the connections she is making in the police department right now will be willing to help her in the future.
“I am hoping to become an investigator for a private firm or company as well as a polygraph examiner on the side,” she said.
“Every day there is something different,” Hamlin said about her police department internship. “I have yet to have two of the same days.” (Photo: Mia Hamlin)
Embry-Riddle Campus Involvement
Hamlin keeps herself busy nearly every night of the week by participating in several student organizations: Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, Young Life, ASL Club, Order of the Sword and Shield (OSS), ASIS Eagle Committee and Silver Wings.
“In ASIS, OSS and Silver Wings, I have learned a lot about professional development and holding myself accountable. They have helped set up a lot of connections for me after college,” she said.
In Delta Phi Epsilon, she serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs, keeping track of members’ grades and offering general academic support. She is also the President of the university’s Young Life chapter, organizing all local events for the Christian ministry group.
ASL Club has given Hamlin a chance to learn sign language in a disciplined yet fun way, she adds: “when we are given homework, it makes me learn, and it’s also a lot of fun and a good break from the chaos of school.”
Faith and Family Support
Hamlin grew up in a small town near Houston, Texas, as the youngest of three sisters. She remembers having to fight for her own name rather than being known as “someone’s little sister.” Nonetheless, her parents were always supportive of her many ambitions and pushed her to be her best.
“My parents inspire me,” Hamlin said, “They came from an upbringing that did not set them up for success and most people take that as defeat for the rest of their lives. But they worked extremely hard to raise me and my sisters away from that environment and inspire us to be different, remain strong in our faith and work hard for what we want.”
Hamlin felt her small-town high school didn’t properly prepare her for college, so she had to put in extra effort during her freshman year at Embry-Riddle. The senior will be graduating in December, knowing her hard work has paid off.
“My advice would be to work as hard as you can during your first few years of college so you can fill your junior and senior years up with advancing your resume.”