Valley State Prison held the first graduation of Fresno State University bachelor’s degree students in the facility’s history.
Over two hundred people were present for the event including the prison’s live streaming video production team and representatives from the local NPR and ABC News affiliates.
“I came into prison with a 5th grade reading level, and now I have earned a bachelor’s degree in social science through hard work, determination, awesome classmates, and incredible professors who truly care,” said Michael Freitas, a recent bachelor’s degree recipient who was part of Valley State Prison’s first graduating class through Fresno State University. He could not contain his smile and his enthusiasm was contagious. “I’ve been locked up for over 25 years, and I never thought I would accomplish anything after coming to prison, but look at me now.”
On Oct. 18, 2024, Twenty-two graduates and many family members celebrated the all-day event.
“It is amazing to see all the joy and pride on display today,” said graduate Joseph Segade. “Our social science degree represents a culmination of hard work both on the university administration and on our part—it makes me proud.”
Nearly every professor who was part of the program attended. Fresno State University’s President Saul Jimenez- Sandoval, deans from four university departments, and the program director and founder Dr. Emma Hughes led the graduation. A myriad of other supporting faculty and university students rounded out the visiting guests.
“The president told me that he was so moved by the whole experience,” said Dr. Jordan Pickering, a criminology professor at Fresno State who taught two classes to the graduates. “Your hard work and perseverance, the student speeches, the feelings of hope and positivity, the love, support, and energy in the room … you could tell that the ceremony really made an impression on him.”
From within the prison, Warden O’Brian Bailey and Chief Deputy Warden Pedro Chanelo were present and gave speeches. Current FSU students within the prison and a dozen staff from the education department at VSP were on-hand to support the culmination of many years of effort by the men of the graduating class of 2024.
“The Fresno State 2024 cohort has set the benchmark for us,” current student Jonathan Chow said with a laugh “Challenge accepted! I want my family to see me up there one day too!”
During the issuance of diplomas a procession of more than 20 professors and administration, many failing to contain tears of joy, waited to shake hands or hug the students.
“I just couldn’t keep it together, I was so proud of these guys, the work they put in,” said Dr. Jesse Scaccia, a media and journalism professor who taught two personal storytelling classes to the cohort. “I am not the only one who feels this way but I have to say that teaching these men has been the most fulfilling experience of my career. My time with these gentlemen has reinforced my love of education. They are all I need to believe in redemption.”
The graduates are not just scholars; they are giving back to the community in other ways. Four are facilitating self-help groups; two are preparing others for college upon parole through PROP (Project Rebound Outreach Program); five are occupational mentor counselors; two are part of the new peer support specialist program; several are Youth Offender Program mentors; three are high school and college tutors in Peer Literacy Mentor Program; and others are even part of the horse and canine therapy programs at the VSP.
Of the 22 graduates, six immediately went on to the CSU Dominguez Hills master’s degree program, and others are pursuing graduate degrees as parolees.
“You are so deserving of all of the support, encouragement, high-fives, news segments, and presidential acknowledgments,” Pickering wrote to the graduates. “We are so, so, so proud of you!!”
