Mountain Home Students Gain Hands-On CSI Experience

Annual event connects classroom lessons to real-world criminal justice and science

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:40pm

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Nearly 500 students from Mountain Home High School and Pinkston Middle School participated in the annual CSI Day event at the Baxter County Fairgrounds, where high school students led 22 interactive stations focused on criminal justice, health sciences, and anatomy. The event gave 6th graders a chance to work through a mock crime scenario while also allowing high school students to develop leadership skills.

Why it matters

CSI Day provides a valuable opportunity for students to apply their classroom learning in a hands-on, interactive environment, helping to solidify concepts and spark interest in potential future careers in criminal justice, forensics, and the health sciences. The event also allows high school students to take on leadership roles, developing important skills they can carry forward.

The details

Organized by the Health and Human Services Academy at Mountain Home High School, CSI Day featured about 200 high school students and nearly 300 6th graders from Pinkston Middle School. The high school students led the 22 interactive stations, while the 6th graders worked through a mock crime scene scenario. Community partners, including Baxter Health and local emergency personnel, also participated in the event.

  • CSI Day took place on March 21, 2026 at the Baxter County Fairgrounds.

The players

Brylee Blasdel

A student who explained the goal of the event is to teach students how to put together information to come to a conclusion.

Christie Lawrence

A faculty member who said the event gives high school students a chance to lead and serve as role models.

Miles Potter, Zane Loftis, and Ryman Pugsley

6th grade students who shared their favorite parts of CSI Day.

Mountain Home High School

The high school that organized the annual CSI Day event through its Health and Human Services Academy.

Pinkston Middle School

The middle school that sent nearly 300 6th grade students to participate in the CSI Day event.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's about teaching them how to put it all together to come to a conclusion.”

— Brylee Blasdel, Student

“CSI Day continues to provide a student-led opportunity focused on leadership, education and career exploration.”

— Christie Lawrence, Faculty member

The takeaway

CSI Day at Mountain Home High School is an innovative program that allows students to apply their classroom learning in a hands-on, interactive way, while also developing important leadership and teamwork skills. The event's continued success highlights the value of experiential learning opportunities that connect students to potential future careers.