By Roscoe Barnes III
Chaplain, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
#MTCchangeslives
 |
These eight offenders
received their GED at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville. From
left: Valedictorian Abel Armenta, Blake Burt, Tramell Warren, Jonathan Dukes,
Allen Armstrong, Jay Magee, and Salutatorian Devante May. Graduate Eddie
Ragsdale, not pictured, did not attend the ceremony. Seated from left: Deputy Warden of Programs Tonya Toomey, Education Supervisor Branton
Lewis, and Statewide Reentry Coordinator Matthew Riley, guest speaker.
|
---------------------------------------------
WOODVILLE, Miss. – Eight men incarcerated at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
(WCCF) recently earned their GEDs. They graduated in a special ceremony in the
presence of their family, WCCF staff, and other offenders.
Graduates included Valedictorian Abel Armenta, Salutatorian Devante May, Eddie Ragsdale, Allen Armstrong, Jay Magee, Blake Burt, Tramell Warren, and Jonathan Dukes. Ragsdale, who is now released, did not attend the ceremony.
“Their achievement is significant,” said Education Supervisor Branton Lewis. “Their scores were some of the highest in the GED program.”
“It’s a great achievement,” said May. “I’ve been wanting this for a long time.”
Armenta said it was a “great feeling” receiving his diploma. “I am speechless,” he added. “It’s really awesome. I want to go to college and study business.”
WCCF, which is run by Management & Training Corporation (MTC) of Utah, had four GED graduates in 2016 and a total of 22 in 2017. The facility is expecting more graduates in the near future, according to Deputy Warden of Programs Tonya Toomey.
Matthew Riley, statewide re-entry coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, gave the commencement address. He told the graduates that they now have an important accomplishment in their lives.
“You worked hard for it,” he said. “Your instructors saw something in you that pushed you a little further. That’s why you’re here today with your caps and gowns on.”
Riley challenged the graduates to “continue their pursuits of achieving academic and career goals.” He also reminded them of their support system, and how they have family and friends that are invested in their future. He said they will experience disappointments and setbacks, but they have to persevere.
Riley presented what he called his “3-D Method of Success.” To succeed in life, he said, one must have dedication, determination, and discipline.
Warden Jody Bradley joined others in offering words of encouragement to the graduates. “You have something to be proud of,” he said. “You earned this. Nobody gave it to you.”
Graduates included Valedictorian Abel Armenta, Salutatorian Devante May, Eddie Ragsdale, Allen Armstrong, Jay Magee, Blake Burt, Tramell Warren, and Jonathan Dukes. Ragsdale, who is now released, did not attend the ceremony.
“Their achievement is significant,” said Education Supervisor Branton Lewis. “Their scores were some of the highest in the GED program.”
“It’s a great achievement,” said May. “I’ve been wanting this for a long time.”
Armenta said it was a “great feeling” receiving his diploma. “I am speechless,” he added. “It’s really awesome. I want to go to college and study business.”
WCCF, which is run by Management & Training Corporation (MTC) of Utah, had four GED graduates in 2016 and a total of 22 in 2017. The facility is expecting more graduates in the near future, according to Deputy Warden of Programs Tonya Toomey.
Matthew Riley, statewide re-entry coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, gave the commencement address. He told the graduates that they now have an important accomplishment in their lives.
“You worked hard for it,” he said. “Your instructors saw something in you that pushed you a little further. That’s why you’re here today with your caps and gowns on.”
Riley challenged the graduates to “continue their pursuits of achieving academic and career goals.” He also reminded them of their support system, and how they have family and friends that are invested in their future. He said they will experience disappointments and setbacks, but they have to persevere.
Riley presented what he called his “3-D Method of Success.” To succeed in life, he said, one must have dedication, determination, and discipline.
Warden Jody Bradley joined others in offering words of encouragement to the graduates. “You have something to be proud of,” he said. “You earned this. Nobody gave it to you.”
#PrivatePrison #PrivatePrisons
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete