Inmate graduates listen to Doug Helmer, director of education for Clark College at Larch Corrections Center, speak during the graduation ceremony Friday.
More than 40 inmates at Larch Corrections Center graduated with a GED Friday at the facility.
Inmates at Larch Corrections Center in Yacolt are incarcerated for a just few years before release.
When they get out, finding a job isn’t easy, but having an education will help.
On Friday, around 100 inmates participated in a graduation ceremony at the facility during which over 40 individuals were awarded a GED. Others received certificates of completion in automotive service and maintenance, business core, supervisory management, job seeking skills, life skills, computing and college readiness. The educational courses are provided by Clark College through a partnership with Larch.
Doug Helmer, director of education for Clark College at Larch, said there’s no better way for inmates to prepare for reentering the workforce.
“It opens their opportunities up for job prospects tremendously,” Helmer said.
“Their chances of landing a job with no education and a felony is astronomically difficult,” added Lauren Zavrel, a GED and basic skills teacher in the partnership program. “By completing these educational offerings they’re demonstrating not just to employers, but to themselves as well, that they can do something difficult, that they can follow through and complete something hard.”
Marcus Bracken, 28, has been incarcerated since January 2016 for possession of firearms. He is set to leave next summer. He obtained his GED Friday and said it was one of the best feelings he’s experienced.
“It’s really awesome … I’ve never graduated before,” Bracken said. “I can get a better job now when I get out, but more importantly I can say for myself that, ‘yeah I went to prison, but I did something positive there.’”
Another GED graduate was Brian Hutson, 36, who was sentenced in 2013 for burglary and possession of firearms.
“I dropped out in the eighth grade, so it’s better late than never,” he said. “It’s nice to know I’m going to have options when I get out in October.”
Hutson said he had the option to go on work release earlier this year but declined so he could stay and finish his GED.
“It was worth it, a whole new world has opened up to me now with this,” he said. “I’m going to be able to better provide for my son Ryan (12).”
Hutson said without such supportive teachers he never would have completed the program.
“It was super hard, especially math, but they were always willing to help,” he said. “I’m very grateful.”
Zavrel said watching the transformation of student inmates makes her work fulfilling.
“They’re capable, intelligent and resilient now,” Zavrel said. “Those aren’t words often used to identify themselves when entering the system.”
Helmer said many graduated inmates will enroll in college once they’re out because they’ve gained confidence. He said over the last couple years the program at Larch has grown by about 30 percent.
“All politics aside, the partnership couldn’t be better,” Helmer said.
