Incarcerated students attend campus graduation

June 12, 2024

One of three graduates who were able to attend their ceremony on the Solano Community College campus.

Three incarcerated students at California Medical Facility in Vacaville were escorted to a local college campus to graduate with other students.

Families of those students were able to attend the graduation alongside others in the community, like any other student receiving a degree.

Daniel E. Cueva, warden for California Medical Facility, approved their transport to the Solano Community College graduation.

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“Not many people graduate college. So, these guys not only worked hard to graduate, but they worked hard while they were incarcerated,” Cueva said.

One of the graduates, LeVante McDowell, was excited for the opportunity to graduate with other students at the college.

“I’m psyched about it. I’m grateful,” he said.

Family members said they were surprised the incarcerated students would be able to cross the stage and accept their degrees on campus. They assumed the graduation would be held like most others, inside the institution.

Normalizing the prison environment, including a trip to a local community college, helps make reentry easier when they are released from custody.

“We should celebrate our incarcerated success,” Cueva said. “To see the smile on the families’ faces, it’s really something.”

Education staff along with CDCR executives, including Division of Adult Institutions Director Ronald Broomfield, attended the graduation in a show of support.