Graduation

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 work you have put in,” said teacher and emcee H. Lucas to the graduating class. “Not everyone in your block put in the blood, sweat, and tears you have,” she added. “What you have overcome to get to this place is no small thing.”

Top: SQ PIO Lt. S. Robinson, Wickerd’s wife Marion, Wickerd’s mother Linda, sister Judy Herrera Bottom: Wickerd’s nephew Robby Herrera and GED Graduate Tommy Wickerd

25-year-old Tye Barker was the first graduate speaker at the ceremony. He described growing up while his father was in and out of prison, “I lost out on so much because I didn’t graduate.”

Later, imprisoned as a young father himself, Barker realized he was headed in the wrong direction. “My kids needed me to change,” he said to the audience. Barker was one of eight graduates from San Quentin’s new High School Diploma program.

“Tye really turned his life around,” said Ms. Anita Kaur Sufi, the teacher for the program. “Now he’s ready for college, a career, and anything he sets his mind on.”

Adamu Chan, Correctional Counselor III Ian Palmer, and Associate Superintendent for the Northern Region, Jennifer Winistorfer (Office of Correctional Education)

Sufi said that the diploma program is an alternative to the equivalency program. She explained that it began after Brant Choate, Director of the Division of Rehabilitative Programs, saw the need for another pathway for students who already have many credits to acquire a certified high school education.

Receiving a six-month education credit, Barker went home two weeks after graduating.

“I came to San Quentin with a third- to fourth-grade education,” said Tommy Wickerd, the second graduate speaker. He said he confessed to his teachers that the 12.9 grade-level test scores on his record were actually from cheating when he first came to prison. “I slid through the cracks for 15 years.”

“At San Quentin I learned how to set and achieve goals,” Wickerd said. He ran three marathons and earned his GED in his almost four years at the Q. “On the final math test for my GED, I got a 149– four points more than I needed. Now I know what an over- achiever feels like! Now the 12.9 is mine – and the GED!”

Graduate Watson Allison and attorney Michael Clough

“This is monumental,” said GED graduate Earl Orr’s sister Patsy Orr. “He’s my first brother to get his GED.” She said their older brother spent about 10 years in and out of San Quentin in the 1970s after serving in the Vietnam War. “In San Quentin back then, they worked out and smoked. That’s it. No classes, no groups,” Patsy said. “I wish they had this quality education program back then. Earl has found himself again through education. I’m so amazed at the change.”

Earl met his 19-year-old granddaughter Ariel Klimpel for the first time at the gradu- ation. She said: “I walked right up and hugged him. It felt so good!”

Coastline Community College graduate Adamu Chan obtained his A.S. degree in Business. Chan said that the experience taught him responsibility, follow-through and self-motivation.

Niece Toby Hutchens, sister Patsy Orr, Graduate Earl Orr, granddaughter Ariel Klimpel, and friend Sherry Reynolds

John Bergeron, a Feather River college graduate, obtained an A.A. degree in Social and Behavioral Science. “I never really finished anything in my life,” he said. But now, he said, he is the first person in his family to finish college.

Graduate Watson Allison received his A.A. degree in Social Science from Lassen College. He was the speaker for the college graduates. He started his speech with a quote from Malcolm X, “‘Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.’ I’ve heard that quote many times as a youth. How- ever, it didn’t make sense, but today it does.” Allison spent 30 years on Death Row after a murder conviction at the age of 23. In 2013 his death sentence was overturned. “Then I was transferred to Solano Prison, where the CC3 counselor assigned me a mentor to help me adjust from death row living. By May 27, 2014, I passed the test for my GED. It was the first positive accomplishment in my life.”

Vocational Plumbing graduate Vadim Zakharchenko said, “I wanted vocational training because I want a career in the construction industry.” He plans to work for his brother-in-law doing prefab homes when he gets out.

Plumbing instructor Pryor said that his vocational class has a lot of math and isn’t easy, but has tutors in the class to help. He said that he “has had five guys parole and make a career out of this training.”

Machine Shop instructor J. Johnson said, “These guys can take this experience and apply for good paying jobs.”

College proctor Mr. Young said, “The guys here today have overcome all their fail- ures of the past…This is the happiest day of the year.”

Principal Wheeless said, “It takes a lot of hard work by the students to get to this day of celebration and I commend them.”

Educator D. Searle and H. Lucas with Graduate George Moss and Graduate Quincy Paige

“I feel so encouraged – full of joy and a sense of accomplishment,” said graduate George Moss the day after he passed his final GED test – just a week before the graduation. Moss persevered through the flu, surgery, lockdowns and administrative segregation during the two years he worked on earning his GED.

Incarcerated for 14 years, he wanted to quit school and learn plumbing when he arrived at San Quentin.

Principal Wheeless told him, “No. Just knock this GED out first.” “I thought it was punishment,” said Moss. He said that now he is grateful to the principal, his teacher D. Searle and tutor Quincy Paige.

Now, after earning their high school equivalencies, both Moss and Paige are en- rolling in Vocational Plumbing.

Andrew Smith is a GED graduate from the Voluntary Education Program (VEP). He said he received excellent one-on-one tutoring from the Teachers’ Aide and said, “Thanks to my teacher, Dr. Marez, for pushing me in the right direction.”

“I never thought I would do it because of my incarceration,” said graduate Luis Ojeda. “But look – now I got my GED!” He said that Mr. Kaufman, the teacher in the ABE I class where he began, was always there to help him and motivate him to get to the next level.

“Now I’m confident,” Ojeda said. He will go home in about a year. “Inside or outside – I’m going to get my college degree.”

Twenty-three-year-old Raiveon Wooden received his high school diploma at the ceremony. He acknowledged help from his teachers M. Ficarra and Mr. Santos to get him ready for the diploma program. Wooden said that with his high school diploma, now he envisions a better job, a brighter future and college.

The 2019 class included 78 graduates, about half of whom attended the graduation. Many had already paroled.

Total number of Graduates:

High School: 8
GED: 43
Coastline: 7
Lassen: 1
Feather River: 1
CTE: 18

PUP graduates Darin Williams, Harry Hemphill, Jose Rivera, Nathan McKinney, Craig Johnson, Gerald Morgan and Claudius Johnson with their Associates of Arts degrees

“Pomp and Circumstance” played and everyone stood to applaud the Prison University Project’s (PUP) class of 2018 as they took center stage in San Quentin State Prison’s visiting room in June.

Nine men graduated and received their Associative Arts degree from Patten University.

One of the graduates, Gerald Morgan, welcomed his 98-year-old aunt, Juanita Stone, to attend the ceremony.

“I’ve been to many graduations,” Stone said. “Patten University at San Quentin has been a category, well organized

“I couldn’t be happier for Gerald’s great achievement.”

A sign read “Room Capacity 200” in the rectangular visiting room with its mismatched tiles in spaces on the floor. An array of orange, blue, black and rose-colored chairs methodically lined the crowded room.

Inmate James King, the college program clerk, welcomed everyone.

“There’s nothing like a graduation,” he said. “By any standard you can think of, these men are exceptional.”

Host James King providing the welcome speech

King gave the example of graduate Craig Johnson, a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the final days of the war in Vietnam. Johnson started with PUP in 1996, but was transferred to other prisons for 10 years before returning to San Quentin.

“Ever since I served in the Navy, I’ve been fascinated with the stars and the planets,” Johnson wrote in the PUP graduation program. “So when the opportunity presented itself, I signed up for the astronomy class.”

Wilhelmina Johnson with son Graduate Claudius Johnson holding his great nephew

Before the ceremony, Claudius Johnson said he felt a little anxious. He started taking classes h PUP in 2014.

“I made it,” he said after the ceremony. “I feel great. I still feel empowered.”

He said an inmate named Johnny Willis once told him about PEACE — Proper Education Always Corrects Error.

“I shed tears,” said Wilhelmina Johnson, Claudius’s mother. “He’s worked hard.”

“This (degree) is my reward,” she added holding it tightly. “He’s the first generation(after herself).

“That’s the fourth,” she said, pointing to her great-grandson, who was held by his mother. They travelled from Los Angeles.

Coordinator Jeese Rothman with Graduate Darin Williams

Darin Williams started with PUP in 2012 shortly after arriving at San Quentin. He’s wanted to graduate college since finishing high school.

“It’s been a lifelong goal,” he said. “It’s easy to stop, especially when you get older. But that’s part of the transformative process, to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.”

“I’m very impressed with the Patten program,” said Ron Broomfield, San Quentin’s chief deputy warden. “This is like the pinnacle of rehabilitation.”

Broomfield started working at the prison in December 2017. This was his first PUP graduation.

“This is another great day at San Quentin,” S.Q. Warden Ron Davis added.For entertainment, the all-inmate band San Quentin Blue performed for the audience. Richie Morris sang and played guitar on cover and original songs. He was backed by musicians Dwight Krizman, Charlie Spencer and Lee Jaspar.

Family friend of Graduate Gerald Morgan commemorates with daughter-in-law Oreisha Morgan

“By any standard you can think of, these men are exceptional”

“This is about you,” Morris said to no one in particular. His song Sometimes Love appeared to situate the listeners in a reflective mood.

Project Rebound Director Jason Bell giving the keynote speech

“You cannot talk about re-entry without talking about higher education,” said keynote speaker Jason Bell, who is formerly incarcerated.

Bell earned his B.A. and M.A. in sociology after paroling from prison and is currently the director of Project Rebound at San Francisco State University.

He told the graduates, “I respect your hustle. Just like you, I had to figure out my way through the education process.”

Bell also encouraged the graduates to stay connected to people who will help them continue their education.

Jose Rivera presents his salutatorian speech

Angel Falcone, the 2017 Valedictorian, introduced the 2018 salutatorian, Jose Rivera, to give a speech. The 2018 valedictorian, Jeffrey Williams, was not available to attend the ceremony.

“There was a stubborn refusal to let this opportunity pass us by,” Rivera said. “I learned in prison. I’ve had my eyes opened. I’ve been exposed to ideas and concepts that I couldn’t imagine.”

Rivera acknowledged all the help given to him by volunteers and staff. He said they care and are “impossibly patient” with the students.

“We should continue to learn through words, books and instruction,” he said. “Give of yourself while doing it.”

Harry Hemphill has been enrolled in PUP on and off since 2011. When he enrolled in The Last Mile’s Code.7370 computer coding program, he said he had to back off from school. He graduated from coding in 2013.

“I continued my Patten education because I knew I needed both,” he said.

Chaplain Mardi Jackson celebrates with Harry Hemphill

Although Jens Brazwell was not able to attend the ceremony, in the graduation program he wrote, “Don’t forget to be good to others, even when it pains you.”

Amy Jamgochian, Ph.D., PUP’s Academic Program Director, said her colleagues make it look like it’s not hard work and thanked volunteers and donors.

“Your generosity fuels this program.” She said, also offering some of the graduates’ own words to the audience. She said Nathan McKinney wants everyone to know “the race for a degree is not a sprint.”

“It feels good to graduate but the mission isn’t accomplished yet,” McKinney said. “I want to get an advance degree.”

Patten University president Thomas Stewart, PhD. told the graduates “Your accomplishments are impactful to your families and communities.”

Morgan had a lot of support from other family members in attendance beside his aunt, who said she “brought him

Patten University President Thomas Stewart, Ph.D. speaking

home from the hospital when he was born.”

“This made (my father) become a better person,” Gerald Jr said.

“He needed this.” Oreisha Morgan added, “He completed some things people on the outside don’t do. I’m honored to be his daughter-in-law.”

Executive Director Jody Lewen celebrates after the ceremony

In closing remarks, Jody Lewen, Ph.D., Executive Director of PUP, acknowledged the graduates, teachers and PUP staff.

“I have no idea what it’s like to be you,” she said to the inmates’ families. “This is also your accomplishment.”

For more photos see below.

PUP 2018 Graduation

Demonstrating great achievement under difficult circumstances

PUP grads take center stage