Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) hosted the first-ever California State University, Fresno, graduation for their bachelor’s degree program. The degrees, and the hard work to earn them, exemplify the spirit of giving people second chances.
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S. Medina, assistant principal of the CCWF college program, said the ceremony celebrated 20 graduates. There was also a post-humous certificate of achievement for a student who passed away.
“This is a huge deal,” Medina said. “This is the first ever bachelor’s program graduation at a women’s institution. Our staff, along with the CSU-Fresno staff, have worked really hard in collaboration to make this happen and make them successful. We’ve had some of our college coordinators with students for the last 10 years. Being able to see them on this monumental day just makes us proud.”
Results of hard work, determination
“It’s a celebration of our accomplishments (and) it keeps us acclimated into society,” said Renecha, one of the graduates. “It keeps us striving to be better people so when we get there, we have what we need to be successful out there.”
She doesn’t plan to stop with her bachelor’s degree.
“(Thanks to the encouragement), now I’m looking toward getting a master’s degree,” Renecha said. “If you can do this in prison, to then out there (in the community) with an abundance of (resources), you can do anything you put your mind to.”
She said the ceremony is an important step to showing others what’s possible.
“This shows our family and community we have grown. We have changed,” she said.
Earning their degrees wasn’t easy.
“We were held up to the same standards as a real college student even though we have prison issues we had to overcome, and we did it,” said Eileen, another graduate. “This makes me so proud of myself and that’s a hard feeling to get.”
Video, photos by Chris Medina, Director, TV Communications specialist
Office of Public and Employee Communications
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