(Bedford Hills, N.Y.) On May 31, Marymount Manhattan College hosted the graduation ceremonies for the Bedford Hills College Program (BHCP) at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. This ceremony marked the 10th year anniversary of the program; in 1997 MMC became the program’s degree granting institution as part of a unique consortium of colleges that supports BHCP.
Currently serving about 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.
President Judson Shaver presented associate’s degrees to nine students and bachelor’s degrees to five students. Twenty-three students also received their General Equivalency Diplomas (GED).
Commencement speaker Reverend Vivian Nixon, a criminal justice advocate who directs the College and Community Fellowship at the City University of New York, spoke to the graduates about the importance of maintaining hope during incarceration, recalling her own experience serving in a New York State Prison.
Melissa Strawbridge served as the bachelor’s degree speaker for the graduating class. She received the Curian Award for demonstrating academic excellence and spoke about her plan to share her knowledge with other BHCP students, and encourage others at Bedford Hills to take advantage of the educational opportunities there.
Thea Jackson, president emeritus of the Center for Redirection Through Education and founder of the program at the prison, gave a founder’s address, in which she reflected on the last 10 years of the program, calling the 2007 class a “perfect ten.”
Joining President Shaver in honoring the graduates were Dr. Dawn R. Weber, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College at MMC, James Hayden, Deputy Superintendent of Programs, representatives from some of the consortium colleges, including Mercy College, Manhattanville College, and Pace University, and the BHCP administration.
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Published: June 01, 2007
