In the span of just ten weeks, Kevin Rader '15 B.S. went from Wayne State University student to undercover cop. With help from the Wayne State Office of Career Services, the criminal justice major secured an instructive and rewarding internship with the Detroit Police Department.

During the summer of 2014, as he was preparing to enter his senior year, Rader went to work in the DPD's first precinct, supporting law enforcement in downtown Detroit for five weeks. The second half of the internship included a five-week undercover opportunity in the department's commercial auto theft unit. The experience provided a new outlook and a sense of focus.

"Being able to participate in the internship was a pivotal moment for me," Rader said. "I learned a great deal about the Detroit Police Department and the dedicated men and women who work hard to keep the citizens of Detroit safe. I knew after completing the internship that I wanted to work in public service after graduation."

Rader started at Wayne State as a 24-year-old. He chose the university for its proximity to his home in Grosse Pointe, but affordability and the availability of financial aid were major factors in his decision to attend as well.

Once on campus, Rader said he enjoyed engaging courses with dedicated professors, and he valued the diversity and richness of cultures present at Wayne State. Attending college in a vibrant urban setting made him feel like his education was impacted by the events taking place in the community around him.

"Wayne State University provides students with such a diverse environment," Rader said. "As a student, you have the opportunity to learn from others about their cultures."

During his first three years, Rader relied solely on grants, loans and earnings from his two part-time jobs to pay for his education.

During his junior year, he applied for additional support and was awarded two private scholarships: the Edmund Ruffin Scholarship and the Florine Smith Stoddard - Louisa St. Clair National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship. Both scholarships were important supplements to his existing grant support.

"The scholarships reduced the burden of student loans, and they covered the costs of books for both semesters of my senior year," he said.

Rader proudly graduated from Wayne State in May, and is determined to seek a future in public service.

"I intend to become either a police officer or a dispatcher," he said. "Eventually, after settling down in my career, I intend on obtaining a master's degree from Wayne State."

(July 2015)