She invited Dr. Clark Roush, endowed chair for the performing arts at York College, to sing Amazing Grace. On the final chorus, Kerby invited everyone to join in. As Roush鈥檚 booming baritone swelled, many in the room were wiping away tears.
Roush had previously taught the cohort鈥檚 Music Appreciation class and was a clear favorite of the student-inmates. In thanking him, one student told Roush, 鈥淚 listen to classical music now, and I like it!鈥�
The admiration was mutual. 鈥淵ou have been an amazing grace in my own life, in my own heart,鈥� Roush told the students. 鈥淵ou have changed the way that I think about things. You鈥檝e changed my life...and I came out here expecting it to be the other way around.鈥�
Roush also gave them a challenge. 鈥淲hat you have been given, it鈥檚 now your turn to give to others.鈥�
Dr. Shane Mountjoy, provost, concurred. 鈥淢y faculty are asking to come out here to teach. They鈥檝e heard so many good things about you,鈥� he told the students.
Mountjoy praised the students for their generosity: a recent Christmas project they took on provided backpacks full of supplies for families in need. 鈥淵ou are women of virtue,鈥� he said.
Mountjoy told the students he is already making plans for a real graduation ceremony at the prison when they鈥檝e completed the program. 鈥淲e are so proud of you and what you are accomplishing,鈥� he said.
YC student Seeletter Livingston
The Second Chance Education Program offers 12 students per cohort the opportunity to earn an associate鈥檚 degree through four years of part-time study. The next cohort of students will begin studies in the fall of 2019. Currently the program is underwritten by donors so that the students鈥� costs are reduced. York College is seeking grant funding to continue the program.
One student commented that Dr. Terry Seufferlein鈥檚 Bible class has inspired her to continue her studies and earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biblical studies. Others echoed her sentiments, saying that they too will pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree once they鈥檝e completed this program.
Dr. Seufferlein received special recognition as the initiator of the Second Chance Education Program. After a standing ovation from his students, he responded, 鈥淚 think I speak for all of the faculty when I say coming here is the highlight of our day. It is a joy to teach students who are so eager and ready to learn.鈥�
鈥婽he York College initiative was the start of a lot of new programs at the prison, said student Angela Manns. 鈥淚鈥檓 so thankful for Dr. Seufferlein pushing for this for us,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have so many more opportunities now.鈥� When she is released in a few years, Manns hopes to start a business building and selling tiny houses or possibly work in the corrections system, bringing her personal experience and knowledge to the field.
鈥淚n the last two years, I鈥檝e seen a shift in our ladies. It鈥檚 hope. Each of us is now looking forward to life outside these gates,鈥� said Manns.
They are spreading that hope to other inmates at NCCW. 鈥淏ecause of our interaction with our teachers, we are encouraging others to do this program,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 be able to do college,鈥� said student Elisa Seastrong. 鈥淏ut with the help of the teachers and the other students in the program...I think I鈥檓 going to make it.鈥� After completing her York College studies, Seastrong hopes to complete a culinary program and work in food service. She recalled her hardest class, Basic Speech taught by John Baker, associate professor of communication. 鈥淎t the beginning I thought, 鈥榯here鈥檚 no way I can do that!鈥欌�� But by the end of the class, she had found her voice. Now public speaking doesn鈥檛 scare her at all.
For some of the students, college previously seemed like a thing that other people did, but not them. It is a challenge to overcome their personal narratives of failure and dare to reach for success. Jennifer Gillpatrick said that at the beginning of each class, anxiety overwhelms her. Plagued by low self-esteem, she perpetually doubts she will be able to complete the next course. Then she meets with the faculty member for the first class session and discovers that their belief in her gives her the confidence to keep moving forward. 鈥淵ou take that stress block right off my back and help me to feel comfortable,鈥� she told them.
Kerby will be leaving on work-release this spring. While she won鈥檛 be able to complete the program at NCCW with the rest of the cohort, this is not the end of her educational journey. She is planning to continue her studies at York College on the main campus as soon as she is able and may seek employment there as well. When her studies are complete, she hopes to do search and rescue work or ministry. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without York College and these people who really want to make a difference for us,鈥� she said.
Kerby encouraged her classmates to keep on striving and achieving academically. She also encouraged the York College faculty and staff. 鈥淒on鈥檛 give up on us. Don鈥檛 give up on this program, because it鈥檚 changing our lives and changing our futures.鈥�
YC student Jennifer Kerby
YC student Bridgette Mann-Welch
Bridgette Mann-Welch is hoping to be granted work release soon after completing the York College program, at which point she will continue working toward a bachelor鈥檚 degree and her dream of working in healthcare. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I could do it when I first signed up,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long, hard journey. We鈥檝e come a long way.鈥�
Mann-Welch said a main challenge for the students is having enough time in the prison library and resource center to complete homework. She is thankful for the cooperation from NCCW staff who are flexible with the students鈥� schedules to make sure they are able to get their work done. With limited access to the internet, sometimes faculty members have to go above and beyond to provide resources for the women. 鈥淚t鈥檚 insane how much they do for us,鈥� she said.
The students study together as much as they are able, quizzing each other while they work. 鈥淲e pull each other through it,鈥� Mann-Welch said, noting that often their assignments are completed early because they are so motivated to not let this opportunity pass them by.
Angela Manns agreed. 鈥淚鈥檓 determined to finish the program with a 4.0,鈥� she said with a grin. Manns mentioned a recent article she had seen about York College alumni giving during the Beyond 125 Campaign. 鈥淚 got excited thinking, someday that鈥檚 going to be me. I鈥檓 going to be an alumni and I鈥檓 going to give back,鈥� she said. 鈥嬧赌�
