Wabash Valley Correctional Facility Graduates Offenders from CNC Course
Terre Haute, Ind.—Wabash Valley Correctional Facility and Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute are proud to announce the certification of five offenders in the Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) course.
Recently the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) and Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute celebrated their 4th Computerized Numerical Control class graduation of non-violent, male offenders from the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility (WVCF). Five offenders earned their National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certifications through the Ivy Tech Workplace CNC training program. The certifications were for the following: Measurement, Materials & Safety, CNC Mill Operator & CNC Lathe Operator.
The CNC class ran five days a week for a little over six weeks. At the graduation Deputy Warden Frank Littlejohn spoke on behalf of WVCF. During his speech Deputy Warden Littlejohn stated, “Life is all about decisions. Whether you are successful or not, happy or not, return to prison or not, is your choice. However, I realize some people have advantages over others based on life circumstances. Not everyone is dealt the same hand.” Then he went on to speak about his life and the decisions he had to make along the way. He also told of the lives of a few incarcerated individuals he had come into contact with during his 23 years with the Department. He shared stories of both success and failure. Deputy Warden Littlejohn focused on the impact your choices have on your outcome.
When CNC Instructor Marquis Songer was asked about the program he said the one thing he really focused on was teaching the men how to be open to the help of others who are already in the field. He stated, “Machining is a huge field. It’s impossible to know everything there is to know. The key is to take the foundation you’ve built the last six weeks and to go into the industry and learn everything you can from those that have years of experience.”
Background
As a part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda , the program trains men at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility how to operate a lathe with the ultimate goal of aligning them with gainful employment in the industry upon release. CNC is an exceptional pathway for released offenders, providing higher pay rates and stable employment upon re-entry. Currently Indiana’s correctional facilities house about 27,000 offenders—and more than 90 percent of them will eventually be released back into Hoosier communities.
 **Wabash Valley Correctional facility celebrating five offenders graduating from Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute with their CNC operator certifications.
 *Graduate using CNC machine
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