Prisoners’ family members, volunteers, educational and corrections staff packed the San Quentin Garden Chapel to witness extraordinary achievement in an unlikely setting. Prisoners from Robert E. Burton Adult School and Patten University received awards of completion for their General Education Development, Associate of Arts Degrees and Vocational Training.
The Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin Color Guard initiated the annual graduation ceremony June 23 by a presention of the American flag.
“How proud your families must be of you and how you have educated yourselves,” said Acting Warden Michael Martel. “Continue learning and continue trying to achieve.”
The warden praised the prison education staff and volunteers who tirelessly devote their time and effort in bringing higher education to the men at San Quentin.
“I’ve never met a more dedicated staff that is so dedicated to your well being,” said Warden Martel.
Guests and a sea of black caps attentively listened as the keynote speaker, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, gave the commencement address.
“America lets you redefine yourself,” said Mayor Quan “Prisons too can be institutions of higher learning.”
She reported the City of Oakland has won federal funds to invest in infrastructure and will need workers to fill future construction jobs. “You need a high school diploma or a GED to get a construction job,” she noted.
Mayor Quan also urged the men paroling to Oakland to help mentor youths and be positive role models in the community. “If you’re from Oakland, I expect you to show up to one of our outreach programs.”
Between speakers, the musical group Neu Dae sang songs of inspiration and praise, entertained the crowd which reciprocated with cheers and applause.
Valedictorians were Achilles Williams, GED; Angelo Falconi, Coastline College, and Christofino Kenyatta Leal, Patten University.
“I came, I saw, and I accomplished and ripped that nemesis off my back, the ignorance that had tugged away at my self-esteem,” GED valedictorian Williams said.
Next to address the graduation audience Coast Line College valedictorian. “Here we succeed, not only as individuals, but as a community. Why? Because we learned that we need each other,” said Falconi “
Finally, valedictorian Leal told the crowd. “The more opportunities we in prison have to learn to value education and see possibilities for ourselves, the greater chance we will break the cycle of incarceration, not just for ourselves but for future generations.”
Seventy-four men received certificates and degrees at this year’s ceremony. Just two years ago, there were 157 graduates. The decline in graduates is a reflection of drastic budget cuts to prison basic education and vocational programs.
The 2011 graduating class included men from the vocational machine shop, vocational sheet metal and from the vocational landscape program, which will be eliminated this year due to the education cuts.
San Quentin is unique for programs it offers to incarcerated men and is the only prison in the state to have an on-campus college program, which is free of charge to incarcerated men. Patten University at San Quentin provides approximately 20 courses each semester in the humanities, social sciences, math, and science leading to an Associates of Arts degree in liberal arts, as well as college preparatory courses in math and English, to nearly 300 students.
In a separate ceremony the same day, five prisoners were awarded diplomas in Christian Ministries (Conceptualized Leadership Development) from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. They are Michael Adams from Wisconsin, Larry Histon from Georgia, Eddie Lee Johnson II and Garrett Martin from California, and George Lamb from New York.
