Dutchess County, NY – On Wednesday, May 29th, 2024, Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison and Columbia-Greene Community College held their second graduation event at Green Haven Correctional Facility. A graduation ceremony was held to honor the 16 students who successfully completed their Associate of Science in Individual Studies.
Hudson Link, a nonprofit founded in 1998 dedicated to providing college education and reentry support to incarcerated people in New York State, expanded by partnering with Columbia-Greene Community College in 2022 to offer associate degrees at Green Haven Correctional Facility. They are proud to announce that this year’s graduating class has doubled in size from 2023 to 2024, with students demonstrating their commitment and scholarship by overcoming obstacles, hardships, and numerous nights of intense studying.
“Our graduates have achieved remarkable success,” Dr. Victoria Walsh, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Columbia-Greene Community College, exclaimed. “Their degrees exemplify the depth of knowledge, sharp critical thinking skills, and unwavering commitment to learning that are crucial to a progressive society. I extend my congratulations to our graduates and their families for this remarkable accomplishment.
Albert S., the Student Speaker at Green Haven, expresses his sincere appreciation to Hudson Link and Columbia-Greene Community College for their unwavering support, speaking on behalf of his fellow students with heartfelt gratitude. “I want to express my gratitude to Hudson Link and my professors for upholding a high standard of excellence and making a positive impact on the narrative of incarcerated individuals. My classmates and I are grateful for the demonstration of dedication, showing us that rehabilitation is not just a theoretical concept. But rather, a significant accomplishment that can be attained with the help of education and the right support. We are living proof of its effectiveness.”
In his keynote address to the graduating class and their guests, Phil Miller, an Assistant District Attorney for Bronx County, delivered an emotionally powerful message. Miller, the first formerly incarcerated district attorney in New York State, started his educational journey by earning an associate degree with Hudson Link and Mercy University while at Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
Miller encouraged graduates to think beyond how education can change their own lives, but to also consider the critical role they can play as leaders in their communities “the potential within each of you is blossoming today as a college degree,” states Miller. “But, in many ways, this degree you have earned is a key that unlocks the beginning of a new journey. You now have a responsibility to teach those who are willing to be taught, to inspire those who have not yet recognized their own potential, and to reach behind you to help pull people forward. “
Joel Jimenez, Hudson Link’s Program Director expressed a personal connection to Green Haven students, as he spent eight years of his incarceration before transferring to Sing Sing to obtain his degree with Hudson Link, “I was driven to provide the men at Green Haven with the same educational opportunities that I was unable to access during my time there. I am thrilled to be attending the second graduation ceremony since the program was established. Education is a powerful tool that can help level the playing field for incarcerated individuals during their incarceration and upon their release back to society.”
“We greatly appreciate our collaboration with Hudson Link, an organization that has made a significant impact on numerous individuals’ lives since 1998,” states Dr. Carlee Drummer, President of Columbia-Greene Community College. “A Columbia-Greene education extends its reach beyond the prison walls, providing incarcerated individuals with an opportunity to reintegrate into their communities and pursue a more fulfilling and purposeful future.”
Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision acknowledges the valuable impact of higher education in prison and commends the efforts of Hudson Link and other organizations. “Organizations such as Hudson Link, and all our college, adult education and vocational programs offer hope and confidence. Congratulations to the graduates at Green Haven Correctional Facility and all the graduating classes in DOCCS facilities this year. Your hard work here will pay enormous dividends in your lives when you reenter the community equipped with valuable skills and knowledge.”
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