Academic Achievement—

GED Certificates Issued To 17 Garner Inmates

Garner Correctional Institution, the state’s high-security prison on Nunnawauk Road, recently held its Education Department’s graduation and awards ceremony for inmates.

Principal Fred Sgro, who headed the June 19 event, introduced the speakers at the program. Mr Sgro praised Garner’s commitment to quality education for its inmates.

The graduation ceremony honored the 17 male inmates who recently passed the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test, the state Department of Correction (DOC) said in a statement.

Statewide, in the 2007-2008 academic year, the DOC awarded 790 GEDs, 30 of them with academic honors.

The DOC’s school district has long awarded the most GEDs of any school district in the state.

Garner Warden James Dzurenda told the graduates, “Don’t stop here. Your educational journey has just begun.”

To the graduates’ families who were present at the event, Warden Dzurenda said, “Keep up the support.” 

Diana Pacetta-Ullman, who is Education Department’s director of curriculum/transitional services, gave words of encouragement to the students.

“You have persevered in spite of distractions. Sensitive and caring staff helped you in your efforts,” she said.

 In quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, Ms Pacetta-Ullman said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” 

State Representative DebraLee Hovey was a guest speaker at the ceremonies. Rep Hovey has a background in education for the learning disabled.

Rep Hovey said “You have started down the road of your dreams….Surround yourself with those who believe in you…Every negative experience can be a positive…Look for an opportunity in everything…..Step out of your comfort zone and believe in yourself.” 

Several graduating inmates spoke at the event. They offered thanks to family members for their support.

One inmate said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

One mother in the audience proudly shouted out after her son spoke, “That’s my boy!”

As inmates approach their discharge dates from Garner, DOC staffers help them to prepare for their transition from life in prison to life in the larger world.

Receiving their GED certificates at the ceremonies were: Rafael Abreu, Juan Diego Botello, Lucilo Cifuentes, Vito Daddeo, Daniel Dejesus, Robert Godfrey, Elijah Lewis, Carlos Morales, John Moye, Wilson Ortiz, Trevor Outlaw, Robert Rodriguez, Willie Sadler, Andre Sands, Kevin Savage, David Tate, and Shawn Williams.

The DOC also issued 49 awards to Garner inmates involved in educational programs including academics, tutoring, musicianship, library work, AIDS awareness, reading, and poetry.