OROFINO, Idaho – Participation in the Lewis-Clark State College Prison Education Program continues to grow, with 22 students receiving degrees during a commencement ceremony held Thursday at Idaho Correctional Institution – Orofino.
Overall, LC State expects to award 40 degrees to prison education students this year, with two graduating at the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center and 16 at the Idaho State Correctional Center (Boise) commencement ceremonies May 8.
The Orofino ceremony was attended by LC State President Cynthia Pemberton, school administrators, faculty and staff, Idaho State Board of Education President Kurt Liebich, Idaho Board of Correction Chair Dodds Hayden, Director of the Idaho Department of Correction Bree Derrick, other students in the program, and family members of the graduates.
(L-R) Dodds Hayden, Kurt Liebich, Cynthia Pemberton, Kent Shriver, Ted Oparnico, Bree Derrick
Four baccalaureate and 18 associate degrees were awarded at the ceremony. Baccalaureate recipients include Jorge Alexander Baird, Cory Ryan Campbell, Kevin Thorne, and Scott White. Associate degree recipients includes Dustin Alfaro, Dakota Bailey, Lance Barnes, Travas Bickhart, Cole Clucas, Christopher Griffith, David Johns, Luke Johnson, Zachary Johnstone, Kenneth Jones, Christopher Kerins, Travis McCulloch, Gordon Mehltretter, Travis Mifflin, Kristoffer Moreno, Corey Reid, Dakota Turner, and Robert Wilde.
“LC State is proud to be Idaho’s leader in prison education,” LC State President Cynthia Pemberton said. “Our innovative program is important to individuals and Idaho as it reduces recidivism rates and helps meet workforce needs. Congratulations to our graduates and a hearty thank you to our small but mighty team for making this possible. I also thank President Liebich, Chair Hayden, and Idaho Department of Correction personnel for their support.”
The event in Orofino featured a full commencement ceremony, complete with graduation regalia and a reception.
“Programs like this demonstrate the power of education to change lives and strengthen Idaho’s workforce,” Liebich said. “LC State is opening doors to opportunity, and these graduates are proof of what is possible when we invest in people.”
LC State currently enrolls nearly 200 students in its Prison Education Program across the three facilities. Students can pursue certificates, associate degrees, or bachelor’s degrees in areas such as business, communication, liberal arts, and social sciences. The school was the first Idaho institution to gain approval for the Prison Education Program.
LC State began admitting incarcerated students to in-person classes in Orofino in 2022 under the U.S. Department of Education’s Second Chance Pell Experiment, which helps give incarcerated individuals more access to higher education. With official Prison Education Program approval, incarcerated students can apply for and receive Pell grants.
Dakota Turner and President Pemberton
“It’s pretty incredible,” said Turner about having graduated with an associate degree. “This is my tenth year of incarceration, and the last three years have definitely been the most defining. The opportunity for education has really opened my eyes to what I can be and a direction to push forward in my future. I know this means a lot to my family, this is one of the greatest accomplishments that I’ve had, to give them something to be proud of. This is definitely more than just for me.”
According to research by the RAND nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization, providing education in prison has proven to reduce recidivism rates and is associated with higher employment rates. A 2018 RAND study found that incarcerated individuals who participated in correctional education were 48% less likely to return to prison within three years than incarcerated individuals who did not participate in any correctional education program. RAND estimates that for every dollar invested in correctional education programs, $4 to $5 are saved on three-year re-incarceration costs.
“Our priority is building safer Idaho communities, and education in our facilities is a proven, cost effective strategy for reducing future crime,” said Derrick. “Education programs like the one offered by Lewis Clark State College help individuals develop skills that lower recidivism and support stable reentry. These graduates have worked hard, and their success benefits communities across Idaho.”
The program saw its first graduate in the fall of 2024 and participation has continued to grow at the Orofino location as well as expansions to Pocatello and Boise.