Johann Eyvindsson first learned about a prestigious Knoxville, Tenn., forensic academy watching television.
But the 32-year-old Iceland native is quick to point out that it wasn’t the popular show “CSI.”
The show was “CSI Academy,” a documentary series that ran on the Discovery Channel. The shows chronicles the 10-week program at the National Forensic Academy, which is run by the University of Tennessee.
After seeing the show for the first time, Eyvindsson — who has never been a fan of the popular TV drama on the same subject — knew he wanted to attend, but also thought his chances were slim.
“I applied just to get it out of my system,” said Eyvindsson, who will graduate from IU Southeast on Monday. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to get it out of my mind.”
It turns out he didn’t have to.
Nathan Lefebvre, forensic coordinator, called Eyvindsson at his Jeffersonville home in December to tell him the good news.
His wife, Eva, called it a “miracle.”
Eyvindsson — who had a letter of recommendation sent on his behalf by Iceland’s Minister of Justice — was the first international student accepted into a program that is already booked into 2008 with a constantly growing waiting list.
“We’re excited to have him,” Lefebvre said.
As timing would have it, the first day of the summer session fell on the same day as IU Southeast’s graduation. Johann, his wife Eva and three of their children — a fourth child is back in Iceland — moved to Knoxville today.
At the end of the 10 weeks, they will return to Iceland having completed precisely what they came to the U.S. to do.
Eyvindsson, a police officer in Iceland since January 2002, moved to the United States in the summer of 2005 to advance his study in Crime Scene Investigation and fire investigation.
“Iceland is so small we don’t have a lot of the educational opportunities you have in the U.S.,” he said.
The family from the small island nation of 300,000 northwest of Europe ended up settling in Jeffersonville in a house they bought from friends of theirs from back home.
“Having been here twice to a church convention — once in 2000 and once in 2004 — I had come to know some people here,” Eyvindsson said. “The area seemed like the best choice.”
Attending school full-time, Eyvindsson took every opportunity he could to attend workshops and training for forensics.
His seven-page resume lists training he’s completed in Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Maryland, California and various locations around the state.
His resume also lists his various awards and honors, including an Academic Excellence Award in the fall of 2005. When he officially graduates on Monday — with nearly 1,000 other students at the New Albany campus — it will be with honors.
“He’s a great student, really ambitious,” said David Taylor, a biology professor at IUS who met Eyvindsson in his first year. “There is considerable pride on our part for what he’s been able to accomplish.”
Floyd County
From IUS to CSI Academy, Iceland native is world class
- Floyd County
-
-
Georgetown spelunker died of self-inflicted gunshot
Crawford County Coroner Chris Brown said he agreed with the pathologist’s finding that Eve died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement released Tuesday morning by the Department of Natural Resources.
-
Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
-
New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
-
Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
-
Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
