SLCC Prison Education Program's New Graduates: "Everything can be taken from me, but not my education. I am my education"
On May 12, 28 students graduated from Salt Lake Community College’s (SLCC) Prison Education Program (PEP) at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Students earned Associate of Science degrees in Anthropology, Business, Criminal Justice, and General Studies, with one student completing a degree in Computer Science and Information Systems. Four graduates spoke to a small audience about how earning an associate’s degree has changed their lives. Melissa Richmond, who earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, shared how earning an education became important to her after she had been stuck in a cycle of addiction and suffering, “mostly self-inflicted,” and was over 40 years old and in prison. “School became my life. It made me realize I have the ability to make great changes in the world.” Richmond added, “Life is fragile. Things are broken, things are stolen, things get lost—friends, family, cars, phones homes. Everything can be taken from me, but not my education. I am...