By David Ditto and Michael Johnson, Staff Writers. Graduating class of Robert E. Burton and Coastline, Feather River and Lassen Community College Tasseled caps and gowns flowed as diplomas, degrees and certificates were conferred in San Quentin’s visiting room during Robert E. Burton Adult School’s 2019 Commencement. College, high school, and vocational program graduates celebrated their accomplishments with family, friends, teachers, and administrators at the annual ceremony on July 26. “We’re so proud of all the incredibly hard … [Read more...] about Demonstrating great achievement under difficult circumstances
Education
Examining the spectrum of education and incarceration
Students, teachers and SQNews staffers exchange ideas during the Teachers’ Forum Norberto Andino, 53, sat in a circle of about 25 people that included his classmates and teachers. The Colombian-born man came to prison without the ability, he said, to write even two sentences in English. It was the first time that the life-term prisoner reconsidered his educational journey. “When I went to school in Colombia, I was so ashamed,” Andino said on July 15 at the third San Quentin News Teacher’s Forum. “My mother didn’t have money for me to … [Read more...] about Examining the spectrum of education and incarceration
PUP hopes to become nation’s first stand-alone prison campus
The Prison University Project’s (PUP) quest for independent college accreditation— and what that may mean, exactly, for the San Quentin community—inspired an active conversation at the July 29 town hall meeting hosted by PUP. With submission of its accreditation application complete in August, PUP’s transition from its partnership with Patten University to the nation’s first stand-alone prison campus moved a step closer to actualization. “To become independent, we’ll become a better school,” said PUP Executive Director Jody Lewen. … [Read more...] about PUP hopes to become nation’s first stand-alone prison campus
Robert E. Burton receives first ever Distinguished School award
Robert E. Burton Principal Michael Wheeless, receiving the Distinguished School award from OCE Superintendent Shannon Swain with Warden Ron Davis (Center) The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Office of Correctional Education (OCE) presented its first ever Distinguished School award to the Robert E. Burton Adult School at San Quentin State Prison in July. An award ceremony was held at the prison to acknowledge “exemplary achievements” the school has made above all 34 other accredited schools within … [Read more...] about Robert E. Burton receives first ever Distinguished School award
Program coordinator Heather Hart bids farewell to PUP
PUP coordinator Heather Hart taking a walk outside SQ San Quentin’s Prison University Project (PUP) waved goodbye to Program Coordinator Heather Hart on July 3. But she leaves intent on continuing her fierce advocacy goals in a potentially broader scope— through philanthropic influence. “After four years here, I started to feel like there was more I needed to learn, more skills I needed to ac- quire in order to get to a place where I could make the most impact,” Hart told SQNews. “Exploring this world of philanthropy, I want to see for … [Read more...] about Program coordinator Heather Hart bids farewell to PUP
San Quentin’s college class of 2019
PUP graduates class of 2019 On a sunny June morning over- looking the bay, 12 incarcerated scholars were honored at the 2019 Prison University Project (PUP) graduation. University instructors, staff, classmates and family of the graduates gathered in San Quentin’s main visiting room to celebrate the conferring of Associate of Arts degrees in liberal arts to the men in blue. Graduate Sumit Lal and family As “Pomp and Circumstance” sounded, the 2019 graduates began their procession, and PUP Board Chair Maddy Russell-Shapiro’s eyes were … [Read more...] about San Quentin’s college class of 2019
Scholarship recipient overcame a dark and troubled past
“I only knew what others had told me: that I was worthless, stupid, and a failure” Prison taught Daniel Hen- son the value of education, and now he has earned a college scholarship. “I did not finish kindergarten because of my parents’ bitter separation,” said Henson. “As a result, from then until I was 14 years old, I bounced from school to school.” After failing out of 8th grade in 1996, Henson said that he “quickly spiraled out of control, associating with other delinquents and engaging in substance abuse. I did not go to school … [Read more...] about Scholarship recipient overcame a dark and troubled past
La jardinería ayuda a rehabilitación de reo
Leopoldo Zaragoza A Leopoldo Zaragoza es fácil encontrarlo en el área educacional de la Prisión Estatal de San Quentin. Después de su clase para obtener su diploma de preparatoria (GED) se le puede ver trabajando en los jardines que adornan los anexos educativos. Zaragoza es un prisionero de 50 años, oriundo de Cha- pala, Jalisco que ha tomado las “riendas” (como dice él), del trabajo necesario para hermosear los jardines llenos de margaritas, crisantemos, geranios y rosales. “El jardinero de azul”, como algunos le conocen, se pasa … [Read more...] about La jardinería ayuda a rehabilitación de reo
Participar en programas educativos cambio su Persepción de la Cárcel
Profesores de PUP Laura Wagner and Paco Brito Prison University Project (PUP) está localizada en una de las prisiones más notorias en el mundo: La Prisión de San Quentin en California. PUP incluye un selecto grupo de profesores, tutores, y voluntarios de varias universidades prestigiosas como U.C. Berkeley, Stanford, San Francisco State, San Jose State, y varias otras universidades locales y de alrededor del mundo. Estos participantes son una parte esencial en la educación y rehabilitación de los hombres encarcelados en San Quentin. … [Read more...] about Participar en programas educativos cambio su Persepción de la Cárcel
Princeton students support ex-cons getting higher education
“Formerly incarcerated applicants are among the most vulnerable, and we should treat them with respect, if not admiration” Princeton University has taken a stance against a student movement called “Ban the Box.” The “box” refers to a section of the college admissions application that inquires about a prospective student’s criminal history. Applicants with criminal histories are very likely to be rejected from academic institutions. Students argue that by allowing criminal histories to weigh into admissions decisions, the Princeton … [Read more...] about Princeton students support ex-cons getting higher education