By Victoria Brito Morales

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – NOV. 24, 2025 – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Brownsville campus’s Iota Kappa Chi (IKC) chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA) delivered an outstanding performance at the ACJA Region 2 Conference this fall in San Marcos, Texas.

The student organization earned an impressive 44 medals across academic, physical and skills-based competitions, including 10 medals in Academic Testing, 4 in Physical Fitness, 12 in Shooting and 3 in Crime Scene Investigation. This collective effort secured the prestigious “Sweeps Award,” recognizing UTRGV Brownsville as the conference’s Grand Champion Chapter.

The theme of the conference, Oct. 9-11, was “Active Shooter,” and Region 2 includes Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

The Sweeps Award honors the chapter with the highest cumulative points based on placements, and IKC achieved this distinction by earning 64 points, more than double that of the next closest competitor. All 15 UTRGV students who attended took home at least one medal.

“Our dominance in firearms continues, but what’s truly exciting is how our students are now excelling across all categories,” said Dr. Michael Sanchez, IKC faculty advisor and lecturer III in the UTRGV Department of Criminal Justice. “This success wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of Dr. Jose Davila, our dean, and Dr. Gordon Crews, our department chair. We are extremely grateful for their leadership and encouragement.”

In the firearms category, UTRGV students captured 13 of the 17 available awards, solidifying the chapter’s showing.

TOP PERFORMANCES

Academic Testing:

• ACJA LAE Knowledge Test: Christina Hernandez – 1st (Professional); Gustavo Mata – 3rd (Upper); Gabriel Richarte – 1st (Lower)
• Criminal Law Test: Luis Vasquez – 1st (Upper); Kriz Pena – 2nd (Lower); Sanchez – 2nd (Professional)
• Juvenile Justice Test: Dr. Michael Sanchez – 2nd (Professional); Kriz Pena – 1st (Lower)
• Police Management Test: Dr. Michael Sanchez – 2nd (Professional)
• Corrections Test: Dr. Michael Sanchez – 3rd (Professional); Kriz Pena – 1st (Lower)

Firearms:

• Individual: Alberto Garay – 1st (Upper); Kayla Navarro – 3rd (Upper); Christina Hernandez – 2nd (Professional); Sanchez – 3rd (Professional); Brianna Rodriguez – 1st (Lower); Gabriel Richarte – 2nd (Lower); Kriz Pena – 3rd (Lower)
• Team Shooting: Christina Hernandez, Rene Sanchez and Devin Perez – 1st (Professional); Brendaly Quinonez, Luis Vasquez, and Jair Tovar – 3rd (Professional); Alberto Garay, Denisse Jimenez and Gustavo Mata – 1st (Upper); Yudith Martinez, Agela De Leon and Kayla Navarro – 2nd (Upper); Kriz Pena, Brianna Rodriguez and Gabriel Richarte – 2nd (Lower)

Crime Scene Investigation:

• Christina Hernandez, Jair Medina, Brendaly Quinonez – 1st (Professional)
• Luis Vasquez, Gustavo Mata, Kayla Navarro – 3rd (Upper)
• Gabriel Richarte, Brianna Rodriguez, Kriz Pena – 3rd (Lower)

Physical Fitness:

• Devin Perez – 1st (Male 25 & older)
• Kriz Pena – 1st (Male 25 & under)
• Brendaly Quinonez – 2nd (Female 25 & under)
• Christina Hernandez – 3rd (Female 25 & under)

“This team has shown what hard work, preparation and passion for criminal justice can achieve,” Sanchez said. “They’re ready to take that energy to the national stage.”

In April, IKC made history by fielding the first all-female shooting team to win a division at the 2025 ACJA National Conference. The team won the Upper Division Team Shooting Competition, marking a milestone in the organization’s 88-year history. The team was led by Kayla Navarro, Christina Hernandez and Brianna Rodriguez.

Hernandez has since graduated and is now a graduate student pursing a Master of Business Administration at UTRGV. As an alumnus, she is classified in the Professional category, along with Sanchez.

To learn more about the Department of Criminal Justice, visit www.utrgv.edu/cla/schools-and-departments/department-of-criminal-justice/.