Graduate now has a future
Published 12:58 pm Thursday, February 22, 2007
By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS – Brightly colored certificates hang on two of the walls at the Cass County Jail.
In this room some inmates are working hard toward a future – one that includes a high school diploma, to help secure a better job or entrance into college, when they are released.
Helene Hoover hangs the certificate after each class is completed.
She teaches the variety of classes the students need to compete their credits. She is just as proud, as are the students, seeing more certificates being put up.
The program is run through Cassopolis Public Schools Adult Education. The newest graduate on Thursday, Feb. 15, was Jonathan Tyszka of Marcellus.
"He worked especially hard," said Hoover.
"He took 12 classes in two months. He comes in and sits down and works," she added. Inmates can also take their studies back to their cell.
Released this week, he hopes to further his education at Southwestern Michigan College and possibly study nursing.
"Since getting a high school diploma, the chances of coming back go down," said Undersheriff Rick Behnke, who was on hand to present Tyszka his diploma.
"More doors open for jobs with added schooling," he added.
Throughout the state, Behnke said, 70 to 80 percent of those incarcerated don't have a high school diploma.
Though graduation lacked a cap and gown, which Tyszka is allowed to wear at the adult group graduation in the spring, the cookies and juice were enjoyed.