Two of the young people obtained a Bachelor of Science in management from Centralia College, while three obtained associates degrees. One additional young person who is no longer at the facility but obtained his bachelor's as part of the cohort was also recognized. All six young people were also recognized for earning membership in Phi Theta Kappa, an international honors society.
During the ceremony, one of the graduates named Benito read Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird.” He discussed how the poem resonated with him and felt his college degree contributed to his sense of freedom. Turning to his fellow graduates, he said, “We are no longer caged birds. Education has helped free us.”
He also took time to thank JR staff by names and his college instructors for believing in him, adding he could not believe he was at his graduation ceremony when he always “hated school.”
“This is what juvenile rehabilitation looks like,” said Secretary Tana Senn who attended the ceremony. “To see young people at our facilities have access to opportunities and get to the point where they are motivated to improve their lives is what this work is all about.”
Through a partnership that began in 2020, Centralia College has been offering college courses at Green Hill. Since then, 49 young people have obtained a college degree while at the secure facility.
The first cohort to obtain an associate's degree at Green Hill were recognized during a ceremony in December 2022. Since then, 39 young people have obtained their associates degree. The first cohort to obtain their bachelor's degree at Green Hill graduated in July 2024. So far,10 young people have obtained a bachelor's degree while at Green Hill.
Kahlev, one of the graduates at the recent ceremony, recounted how seeing the names of the first college graduates at Green Hill inspired him to get his “name on that plaque, too.”
Following this school year, Green Hill and Centralia College are temporarily suspending its bachelor’s degree program due to low enrollment numbers, instructor capacity, and increased interest by young people in vocational programs, including Culture Barber Academy, Trades Exploration Pre-Apprenticeship (TEPA), auto shop, and welding.
Over the past three years, about 150 young people have enrolled in vocational programs and about 55 have obtained certification.
The first cohort of young people to meet all state requirements to become licensed barbers graduated during a ceremony at Green Hill earlier this month.
The five young people went through 1,000-hour state board-approved curriculum, personal development, career exploration, technical training, and exam to obtain their license.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), which oversees Green Hill, will continue to partner with Centralia College for the associate’s program and monitor interest to restart the bachelor’s program. DCYF will also continue to explore other options to deliver a bachelor’s degree program at a smaller scale.
Later this month, Echo Glen Children’s Center, one of the other juvenile rehabilitation secure facilities DCYF oversees, will start to partner with Highline College to offer more education opportunities for young people at the Snoqualmie facility.
This school year, young people at juvenile rehabilitation facilities across the state have earned:
“A lot of times, young people come to our facility with credit deficits, so to see them put in the work and obtain degrees and certifications that often times they would not otherwise pursue or be an option, is really powerful to witness,” said Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Rehabilitation Jennifer Redman.
Juvenile Rehabilitation serves young people up to age 25 who are committed to juvenile custody by a court. The goal of JR is to give young people treatment, resources, and the skills to build successful futures. DCYF runs three secure facilities, eight community facilities, community transition services, and parole programs across Washington state.
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