Antelope Valley College, in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), held a graduation ceremony last week on Yard A at the California State Prison, Los Angeles County, hosted through the New Horizon Adult School program.

Fifteen students earned associate degrees from AVC, while an additional nine students received associate degrees from other California community colleges. High school diploma and GED recipients, along with those who completed vocational certificates, were also celebrated during the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by a group of AVC faculty and staff who joined the students and their families in recognizing this significant achievement. We want to recognize the AVC faculty who teach in the Rising Scholars Prison Education Program.

Thank you to Michele Schottelkorb and faculty members John Asatryan, Jah Dover, Richard Dyke, Maria Espinoza-Schrock, Francisco Fuentes, Grikor Geysimonian, Carina Giorgi, Nathaniel Greely, David Harrison, Fritz Hemker, Greg Langner, Dale Lendrum, David Lewis, John Livermont, Tina McDermott, Ronda Nogales, Larry Ramirez, Edward Sammons, Bruce Schreibfeder, Denise Smith, Quinn Smith, Joshua Spurgeon, Noah Stepro, Emily Velez, and Kathleen White for the dedication and commitment to supporting students in this unique educational setting.

Dean Nate Dillon, who has overseen the refinement of the Prison Education Program, was praised for his leadership. Under his guidance, the program shifted to an 8-week instructional model, a change that has contributed to improved completion rates.

This graduation marks a milestone for these individuals and the ongoing partnership between AVC and CDCR to provide educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals.