Valedictorian Keung Vanh told a packed college graduation audience that when he came to prison 20 years ago, “I didn’t even have a high school diploma.”
On June 12, the standing-room-only Protestant Chapel served as an auditorium, as Vanh and eight other graduates also accepted their Associate of Arts degrees from the San Quentin Prison University Project.
In the audience were the graduates’ family members, community volunteers, PUP teachers, prison administrators and fellow prisoners.
Vanh began his valedictorian speech by explaining how shyness, while growing up, made his educational journey challenging.
“Whenever my teacher asked me to repeat something, my shyness would keep me quiet,” Vanh said. “So, my third grade teacher questioned my ability to learn.”
Vanh said because of his quietness he was “labeled academically challenged and sent to remedial school.” The experience had a lasting effect on his self-esteem, he said.
“After awhile I began believing this; then I started falling behind,” he said. “By the time I reached high school, I had new challenges — gang violence, which caused me to be kicked out of school three times.”
Vanh said his troubled life included committing criminal acts that led to imprisonment at age 16.
“When I first came to prison, I was locked in a cell 23 hours a day,” he said. “Then I began learning when a teacher came by and slid booklets in under my cell door. I did the work until I graduated from high school.”
After turning 17, Vanh said he was transferred to state prison. “Then I had to focus on survival.”
“When my cellie (Phoeun You, who is also graduating today) asked me for help with his college homework, I started thinking differently about college,” Vanh said.
Vanh enrolled into PUP in 2010.
“I began getting confidence when I completed a research course and a previous teacher complimented me on how much my writing improved,” Vanh said.
Addressing his family, Vanh said, “I want you to know that my incarceration is not your fault,” which brought tears to many of the men and women in attendance.
“I would have never thought he would get a chance to get a college degree,” said Vanh’s brother, Keo.
Vanh’s Cellie Graduated Too!
Phoeun You’s mother, father, brother and three sisters traveled for nine hours to attend the graduation. You hadn’t seen his parents for more than 20 years.
“With each class that I completed, new difficulties and struggles followed,” You wrote in the graduation program. “Nevertheless, six years later, in my cap and gown, Mom and Dad, you’re still by my side. I can finally show you how much you are appreciated.”
“He changed for better, because of the school program,” said You’s brother, James. “Hopefully he’ll be able to get out soon. I would like him to reach out to the victims’ family and ask for forgiveness.”
San Quentin Prison University Project Alumni Attend the Graduation:
Former San Quentin prisoner and keynote speaker Sam Vaughn is employed in Richmond.
“I work for a city government. I’m a government man,” Vaughn said, bringing a round of laughter in the audience. “Now, I challenge that same government.”
“I work with people who commit gun violence,” Vaughn said. “We engage these young men and build a relationship with them. We challenge them to do something different in their lives and to get an education, driver’s license, or anything to change the way they were living. We help them through a process where guns become irrelevant.”
Vaughn said that educating incarcerated people is “very controversial.”
“There’s people on the streets, working two jobs and can’t send their children to college. But you guys are committing crime and your reward is to go to college. Who do you want getting out of prison?”
Vaughn answered those questions by saying, “You’re taught critical thinking skills. You are taught how to adapt to society.”
He told the graduating inmates that they are needed in the community for the “plethora of knowledge in here. We got to go out there and stop the terrorism that’s happening in the community.”
“Patten University gave you the opportunity,” Vaughn said. “Don’t let what society tells you put a ceiling on what you can do.”
Curtis Penn was paroled in 2013 under Proposition 36.
“The biggest challenge I had after getting out was being patient and let things happen on its own course,” Penn said. “I had to humble myself and apply for social services.”
Penn is the recipient of a Willie Brown Fellowship and works with San Francisco Reentry. He has also received a John Erwin Award with Project Rebound in order to help ex-offenders pursue college.
Penn is active in the community. He has served on a sentencing commission in San Francisco. He also works with environmental organizations that teach participants sustainable living.
“You got to have a plan of action,” Penn said, regarding what to do before getting out of prison.
Other Graduates:
Jerome Boone: “My English classes taught me to structure and articulate my thoughts and emotions; math showed me that problem solving also builds confidence; Philosophy and Ethics revealed that not taking a stance is in fact taking a stance. I even found some spirituality, not in Comparative Religion, but in Biology w/lab. In a way, PUP introduced me to myself.”
James “JC” Cavitt: “Receiving my college degree gives me a strong foundation to stand on so I can say, ‘No more excuses.’ Poor living conditions, scarce resources, lockdowns, or prison bars should not be used as a reason not to pursue higher education.”
Carlos Flores: “What has encouraged me to continue in the program is the systematic knowledge and positive daily activity it brings to my life. The benefits have been an ability to make my family proud, and I’ve gained greater personal insight into who I am and the world I live in.”
Tony Manning: “I may once more bring that joyful pride back into my family, as they read and see pictures of me receiving my diploma on the stage.”
Carl Sampson: “I realized…that being at retiring age did not mean that I was too old to learn. The saying, ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is not true. It’s a lie.”
Sa Tran: “Mom, I truly am sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you, so THIS is for you.”
Van Wilson: “I am most grateful to the outside men and women who have helped me and made it possible for me to achieve my Associate of Arts degree.”
The Entertainment:
Contagious performed Coming Home: its lyrics read: I’ve been gone so long. I’m coming home again. David Jassy, James Benson, Paul Comauex, Darryl Farris, John Holiday, Lee Jaspar, Charles King and Kevin D. Sawyer.
Spoken Word performed by James “JC” Cavitt,, “Freedom,” We’re all serving time. We’re just in different places. If we want freedom we have to think differently.
JulianGlenn “Luke” Padgett, Cavitt, Antwan “Banks” Williams, Kevin Carr and Anouthinh Pangthong performed a choreographed dance, called Stomp It Up, and received a standing ovation.
“This is a very important community to me,” said Kara Urion, PUP program director. “I love you all in a very not over-familiar way,” which brought laughs from the audience.
Prison University Project’s Mission:
To provide excellent higher education program to people incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison and throughout the California State Prison system; to create a replicable model for such programs; and to stimulate public awareness and meaningful dialogue about higher education and criminal justice in California. We advocate for higher education programs for individuals incarcerated throughout the State of California and United States, and we strive to promote public support for prison education, training, and recovery programs.
Patten University President Thomas Stewart, Ph.D., told the audience that he wrote his dissertation 20 years ago about the evolution of prisons.
“In a democracy, it says that education should be available to everyone,” Stewart said. “Jody Lewen, (Executive Director of PUP) is making that possible.”
Steward reminded the graduates to have faith and to be persistent in their educational pursuit. “Your faith and persistence is why we’re here today to celebrate success.”
San Quentin News Advisor Joan Lisetor contributed to this article. www.prisonuniversityproject.org
