Century CI Inmates Graduate With GED, Ready To Work Certificates

April 21, 2012

Century Correctional Institution held a graduation ceremony Friday morning for inmates receiving their GED diplomas while behind bars.

“I began to challenge my thoughts, feelings and beliefs,” said Century CI Class of 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe, earning his GED at age 30. “I am able to receive my diploma today because I made a choice.”

Ashe is about six months away from finishing a two-year prison sentence for cocaine possession, passing forged bills, trafficking in stolen property and grand theft in St. Johns County. He readily admits that he made very bad choices that landed him in prison, but he said his newly earned GED will open a whole new world of opportunity once he is released.

“I can and will make a difference in my community when I leave out of here,” Ashe said. He thanked God for the opportunity to earn his GED behind bars, and he acknowledged Florida’s tax payers for funding what he called a worthy program.

Henry Jordan, class valedictorian, is serving a 3.5 year sentence for a weapons and felony driving without a license charges from Duval County. His said his days at Century CI were once filled with working out “to look good at the beach” upon his release. But then, he said, he got his priorities straight.

“I decided to join the GED program instead of working out,” Jordan said. “I decided to  focus on my GED…a GED increases my odds of making something of myself.”

Four other inmates received their GED diplomas during a graduation Friday morning inside Century Correctional Institution.  They were: Joshua Moynihan, Alex Lichtenberger, Karey Murphy and Dachua Oliver. Earning the GED meant passing a five-part test consisting of reading/language and writing (including an essay), math, social studies and science.

“I watched another guy get up and walk out of the GED test because he thought the essay was too hard,” Jordan told fellow inmates at the graduation ceremony. “Don’t y’all give up. Everything is worth it.”

For a photo gallery from the prison’s graduation ceremony, click here.

Also Friday morning, 11 Century Correctional inmates received their Florida Ready to Work certificates. Florida Ready to Work is an innovative state-funded workforce education and economic development program that provides student job-seekers with a standard credential that certifies their workplace readiness and ability to succeed on the job.

Inmates receiving Ready to Work certificates were: Shawn Ashe, Steven Kelly, Robert Brantley, Jraron Lasseter, Vonsha Marshal, Joshua Monynihan, Erving Rogers, Brandley White, Timothy Curd, Alex Lichtenberger and Dachua Oliver.

Century CI Warden Richard Comerford said 16 more Century Correctional inmates will take their GED tests in next few days.

Guest speaker for event was Mark Whitacre, the highest corporate-level executive to ever become a FBI whistleblower,  uncovering a massive price fixing scheme at Archer Daniels Midland (AMD) in the 1990’s.  He served nearly a decade in federal prison. Whitacre was the subject of the 2009 movie “The Informant!” in which he was portrayed by Matt Damon. Monday morning on NorthEscambia.com, we will bring you Whitacre’s story.

Pictured top: Century Correctional Class 2012 Salutatorian Shawn Ashe addresses fellow inmates Friday morning. Pictured top inset: Ashe and Valedictorian  Henry Jordan. Pictured below: GED graduates in their “class photo” with Century Correctional staff members. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.



Comments

10 Responses to “Century CI Inmates Graduate With GED, Ready To Work Certificates”

  1. No Excuses on April 23rd, 2012 3:53 pm

    Jeff,

    I understand what you are saying. However, there is a difference between job applicants who really try to prepare themselves for a job, even those who are ex-felons, and those who show up and hope for the best. Some employers want people who have been released recently for the tax credits, and others are simply willing to give a second chance. Read the article in today’s (4/23) North Escambia.Com edition about Mark Whitacre. He’s not an exception – many inmates released today lead productive lives and are gainfully employed. The key is they prepared while still in prison and did what they could to tip the scales in their favor in the job market.

  2. Michelle on April 22nd, 2012 10:12 pm

    The world is full of second chances. Congratulations to all that graduated, and those who might be starting. When you have served the rest, the world is your oyster. :D

  3. jeff on April 22nd, 2012 4:22 pm

    Wont be much help. Employers are ALL doing background checks these days even for simple labor jobs. So no amount of education will help if felonies are on their records. Just speaking from my own experience.

  4. No Excuses on April 21st, 2012 7:42 pm

    Hi Gus,

    The Florida Ready to Work program is an extensive program where the guys take a pretest in several areas that they will be expected to be proficient in by most employers today – reading, writing, math and other important areas. The pretest is scored, and if the inmate has any deficiencies, he or she is assigned work to remediate the problem. This credential is not easy to get! Presentation of the creditial to a prospective employer shows that the inmate has demonstrated an acceptable level of proficiency in areas of workforce skills needed for success on the job. We have it at our prison as well, and the men are very active in the program.

  5. katie on April 21st, 2012 3:11 pm

    Congrats you guys! it’s nice to see people who want to change their life!
    Keep up the great work! :)

  6. JIM W on April 21st, 2012 3:03 pm

    Congrats to all! The first step on a long road. Stay focused and productive. Once again proud for you and of you for doing something with your time that is positive. Good luck with whatever you do.

  7. Old Goldie on April 21st, 2012 3:55 am

    Ditto what bigbill said! May God continue to be with them.

  8. bigbill1961 on April 20th, 2012 6:41 pm

    Awesome. May God bless them all as they start on their new path in life.

  9. Gus on April 20th, 2012 6:15 pm

    Congradulation to them for getting their GED’s. What is a Florida Ready to Work certificate? Is that so they can work on the road crews, or a certificate to be able to work because the are not american citizens?

  10. Jay Resident on April 20th, 2012 4:13 pm

    Congratulations to them all. It’s their first step to a brighter future.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News