Samantha Rose
Public Relations Coordinator
J.F. Ingram State Technical College
Top Photo: ISTC celebrates graduates from Tutwiler Prison for Women and Birmingham Community-Based Facility on Wednesday with a commencement ceremony and celebratory meal with family members.
ELMORE, Ala. – J.F. Ingram State Technical College (ISTC) hosts the first graduation ceremony since consolidating correctional education, celebrating students who received their technical certificate of completion, GED, or high school diploma on August 30 and 31.
“Ingram is focused on training students in high-wage high-demand jobs that best benefit the students’ success upon release,” said ISTC President Annette Funderburk. “When the students are released, they will be equipped with the skill set to gain meaningful employment and become productive members of society.”
Ingram State celebrated the accomplishments of 207 students across seven locations through a hybrid-model graduation. Female graduates were recognized during an in-person ceremony at Draper Instructional Service Center on Wednesday. Male graduates and their families joined together for satellite ceremonies at seven locations across the state. Draper Instructional Service Center served as the primary location, streaming the commencement to the outside locations. Each graduate was recognized individually and streamed across the College.
Valerie Gray of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Board of Trustees served as the commencement speaker for the female graduation ceremony held on Wednesday. Mrs. Gray spoke about the importance of education and the impact it will have on their future.
“Today signifies the culmination of the hard work and dedication that every one of these students have put in to achieve their education,” said ACCS Board of Trustees member Valerie Gray. “The ACCS Board of Trustees members are very proud of all Ingram State graduates for taking the first steps in your reentry journey and we wish nothing but success for each and every one of you.”
Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) Secretary Fitzgerald Washington was featured as the commencement speaker for the male graduation ceremony held on Thursday. Secretary Washington spoke to the graduates about how the technical training they receive at Ingram creates opportunities for success in the Alabama workforce.
“Matching employers with jobseekers are one of ADOL’s main goals, and I’m proud to be here today to help connect these recent graduates with businesses who want to employ them,” said Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “The technical skills, along with the soft skills these students have learned here at Ingram will make them valuable members of Alabama’s workforce.”
Graduation is a pivotal point in the prison to workforce pipeline where students receive a quality education, gain hands-on experience through on-the-job training, transition to full-time in-field employment through the ADOC work release program, and are released with the tools and skills needed to join the Alabama workforce.
J.F. Ingram State Technical College is a fully accredited member of the Alabama Community College System serving incarcerated students exclusively. The College offers training in 20 career and technical programs.
