|
|
|
|
June 2, 2005
MMC Graduates Students Through Bedford Hills College Program
 |
(Bedford, N.Y.) On June 2, 2005, Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) hosted graduation ceremonies for the Bedford Hills College Program (BHCP) at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Dr. Dawn R. Weber, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College at MMC, presented two candidates for four-year Bachelor of Science degrees and seven candidates for Associate of Arts degrees. All nine graduates had completed the program, which offers a college education to eligible women inmates at the facility.
Since 1997, Marymount Manhattan College has been the degree granting institution and a member of a unique consortium of colleges that supports BHCP. Currently serving 150 undergraduate students, BHCP consists of non-credit college preparatory courses and credit-bearing courses, awarding Associate of Arts degrees in Social Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology.
Documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson served as the ceremony's commencement speaker. Nelson's independent features include a number of PBS productions on social and societal issues, including the Peabody Award-winning The Murder of Emmett Till. He spoke of his work with incarcerated people and told the women how much attending the ceremony meant to him personally, saying, "Each one of you is a role model for me because of what you have accomplished against the odds."
The ceremony gave the graduates and their families the opportunity to fully celebrate their accomplishments. The ceremony theme was based on a line from Alfred Lord Tennyson's In Memoriam, "Let knowledge grow…from more to more." Shalonda Woods, the class valedictorian, gave a moving speech to her fellow graduates, the faculty and guests.
Joining Dean Weber in honoring the graduates were Louise Feroe, President of Mercy College and John Sharkey, Associate Provost at Pace University. The BHCP consortium consists of these colleges along with Bank Street College, Barnard College, Manhattanville College, Fordham University, Marymount College in Tarrytown, Metropolitan College and Sarah Lawrence College.
Since its inception, 52 women have received college degrees through the Bedford Hills Program. Eight additional students, released from prison while in pursuit of their degrees, completed their studies at Marymount Manhattan College in New York.
|
|
|
|
|
