Forensic scientist & Seton Hill instructor of forensic science Barbara Flowers and four Seton Hill science majors presented the “The Great Cookie Caper” mystery for children at Adams Memorial Library in Latrobe, Pa. on Wednesday, October 24.

Seton Hill and the Children’s Room at Adams Memorial Library partnered to present “The Great Cookie Caper.” The presentation allowed the children to help solve a “crime” involving missing chocolate chip cookies by participating in basic forensic science activities such as investigating a crime science, dusting for fingerprints, identifying blood stains, and examining DNA evidence. Seton Hill instructor Barbara Flowers designed the “crime” with the help of her family, including taking “mug shots” of, and collecting hair samples from, her husband, children and dog.

“The Library approached us about doing a program, and we thought this would be fun for the children,” said Flowers. “We presented the program during National Chemistry Week, and close to Halloween, so it was a nice time to be able to do this."

Participating in the program were Nikki Klein (a Seton Hill biochemistry major), Allie Cheppa (a Seton Hill sociology major), Carly Pasipanki (a Seton Hill biochemistry major), Anthony Seranko, (a Seton Hill forensic science/education major), and 30 children between the ages of 6 – 12 from Latrobe and Unity Township, Pa.

All photos courtesy of Adams Memorial Library.