Degrees of Change: Education transforms lives behind bars

In many ways, it looked like any other graduation ceremony. Graduates, donning caps and gowns, waited with excited anticipation, shaking hands with faculty and embracing family members who had come to celebrate this milestone. Bulldog red and blue decorations, emblazoned with “Class of 2024” and “Congratulations Grad,” brightened the gymnasium walls. The mood was festive, with staff and faculty in regalia, graduates and loved ones mingling as they awaited the ceremony’s start.

But this wasn’t just any graduation. What unfolded in rural Madera County, just southeast of Chowchilla, was nothing short of extraordinary – the first-ever commencement for incarcerated individuals earning bachelor degrees through Fresno State’s Degrees of Change program.

Upon approaching Valley State Prison, the beige buildings blend into the dry, rural landscape, surrounded by fields. For some, it’s hard to imagine anything extraordinary happening within those walls. Built in 1995, Valley State Prison serves as a re-entry hub for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), providing vocational and educational training. Yet on this day, the prison hosted a graduation ceremony for 23 men who earned their bachelor’s degrees in social science while incarcerated.

Oscar Martinez, one of the two commencement speakers, captured the collective emotion. “Well, I never thought I would be here,” he said, his voice filled with awe and excitement. The graduates, seated proudly in the front row, rose to their feet, applauding and cheering each other throughout the event. 

Many of the shared sentiments were similar to traditional college graduation ceremonies – the relief it was over, the acknowledged exhaustion of achieving a remarkable educational milestone that often takes years to complete even under the best circumstances and the drive to succeed for love and family. However, it was clear, through the graduate’s own voices, this was not a traditional experience. 

In his address, Martinez shared a powerful poem reflecting on his journey:
“Carrying my own backpack filled with those lies that were told to me,
Self-fulfilling prophecies,
Education meant nothing to me!
I am too stupid is all I ever learned,
Especially when I couldn’t read,
And the consistent, I’ll never succeed.”

At the heart of this transformative program is Dr. Emma Hughes, a Fresno State professor and program coordinator for the Degrees of Change initiative. Colleagues and students alike credit her vision and dedication for making this moment possible. 

Jose Ornelas, one of the graduates and commencement speakers, passionately expressed the impact Hughes had on his journey: “Today, in my opinion, would not have happened if it was not for the hard work from one of the kindest people I have ever met in my life — Dr. Emma Hughes. I am convinced that she is an angel sent to help all of my fellow classmates, as well as myself. One of the main reasons we are all here today is because of her.” 

Hughes said, “Our faculty travel out to Valley State Prison once a week to teach classes under extraordinary circumstances. The faculty cannot use cell phones or connect to the internet while in the prison, and the students only have access to a closed intranet system via CDCR’s version of the Canvas learning platform. The students can’t connect to external websites like YouTube. This makes for a learning environment that is uniquely challenging and different from a traditional classroom.”

Despite the challenges, the program thrived. “Teaching at the prisons has been one of the most meaningful and transformative things I’ve ever been a part of,” said Dr. Jesse Scaccia, an assistant professor in media, communication and journalism at Fresno State.

His warm smile and approachable nature fostered deep bonds with the students, particularly in his media storytelling class, where they were empowered to reclaim their own narratives through writing. 

Ornelas expressed his gratitude during his commencement speech: “Dr. Scaccia, a person I owe so much — you inspire me, Dr. J. You have given me the confidence to be a writer.”

Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval emphasized the importance of the program in his address. “The Degrees of Change program embodies the ethos of Fresno State,” he said. “Higher education is more than a privilege for the few — it is a journey of self discovery and reflection about one’s self, one’s responsibility to others and one’s ability to contribute, when given a second chance, to society’s betterment; it is a powerful force for all, regardless of circumstance.”

Statistics support the program’s importance. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 95% of state prisoners will eventually be released, and nearly 80% will return to their communities under parole supervision. In California alone, about 35,000 individuals are released each year, highlighting the critical need for educational programs that support re-entry and reduce recidivism. The program also helps those who may be staying long term within the prison to contribute to a positive and constructive culture and positions them to serve as mentors to others. 

As the ceremony drew to a close, Martinez left the audience with a powerful final stanza that transcends circumstance and prison walls:

“As we graduate now and see the smiles,
Do not forget the things we thought we could not endure.
And when we step outside,
Look up and look around,
Everyone’s potential is sky bound.”