Graduation ceremony held for the class of 2026 at the Kemper-Neshoba Regional Correctional Facility

KEMPER COUNTY, Miss. (WTOK) -Tuesday morning, the graduating class of 2026 was celebrated for all of their accomplishments, reaching and completing their educational goals.

This was an important moment for the graduates, being surrounded by close friends, family, and staff who’ve supported them along the way against all odds.

“It is a huge accomplishment. These guys have demonstrated that, against what some might consider insurmountable odds, certain accomplishments can be had. Even here, while being incarcerated, they’ve managed to pass the requirements for the GED, and here they are. This is a springboard, in my opinion, for the rest of their lives, and so, they can take this and pursue higher educational opportunities, or they can take this and go into something more vocational or whatever the case might be. But they have demonstrated that this is a springboard for doing something different with your life,” Timothy Collins, Executive Director of MS Housing Partnership Jackson, and guest speaker, says.

The students obtained either their GED, Career Readiness Certificates, Workforce Credentials, or other educational achievements.

This ceremony not only highlighted their hard work but also showed the perseverance and determination of the graduates taking the next steps towards their growth, education, and future success, as this was a motivational moment for those who didn’t have the courage to enroll in the program.

“I think it’s very motivating because every day when I have class, I have other inmates coming in saying, Miss Cole, when are you going to start your next class? And I was letting them know that we had to complete this cycle first, and we’ll start back up in July, and so I don’t care how many times I told them we’re going to start in July. They still were coming to see when they can be a part of the class,” Says Aimee Cole, GED Instructor, East MS Community College.

In the great words of Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world, meaning being able to learn and having knowledge gives people the ability to improve their lives, while creating positive changes in society, as education is one of the strongest tools for transforming communities and the world around you.

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