On Jan. 9, three inmates at Simpson County Detention Center (SCDC) will embark on their college journey through Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC). This opportunity came to fruition from a partnership between SKYCTC and the SCDC called SKY DIVE: Southcentral Kentucky Developing the Incarcerated with a Valuable Education.
Jailer Eric Vaughn, Deputy Emily Casada, and Chief Deputy Jailer Brent Deweese have fostered this vision of inmate education that will allow them to be productive members of society upon their release.
“This is the perfect next step to reduce recidivism rates and boost career development opportunities in Southcentral Kentucky,” said Kelcie Richart, Campus Director of SKYCTC’s Franklin-Simpson Center. Richart and Samantha Mallory, Associate Director of SKYCTC’s TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) program, have contributed to the SKY DIVE program by assisting inmates with the SKYCTC admission application, transcript requests, placement testing, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Samantha ‘Sam’ Mallory lives in Russellville with her husband, Logan County High School graduate Ben Mallory, and their children.
Educational Opportunity Centers are one of eight federally grant-funded TRIO programs committed to promoting college access and success.
In addition, Ray Haddix, Simpson County Adult Education Coordinator, has provided support for the students as they earned their GED and studied for their placement exam, and he will also supervise their college class time in a computer lab at SCDC.
This spring, the college course is being funded through commissary funds. “We want to reinvest the inmates’ commissary funds into something that will contribute to their growth and development. None of this endeavor is funded through taxpayer money,” said Jailer Vaughn.
SKYCTC and SCDC hope to become an approved Prison Education Program (PEP) by Fall 2023, so that inmates will then be able to utilize federal Pell grant to fund their courses. The FAFSA Simplification Act passed in 2020 included the restoration of Pell Grant for students who are incarcerated beginning in the Fall of 2023.
Selection of the students was spearheaded by Deputy Emily Casada. Requirements to participate in the SKY DIVE program involved good disciplinary standing and completion of college readiness benchmarks.
“I am grateful for the opportunity because I know that these credits will transfer to a public college when I am ready to pursue my bachelor’s degree,” said Cornell Gist, 32. He wants to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or Sociology on his path to becoming a therapist.
Jerry Martin, 42, wants to earn an Industrial Maintenance degree to further his career in manufacturing.
Alex Duong, 25, is excited to explore a variety of general education courses and learn about different career options.
SKYCTC commits to supporting future SKY DIVE students, enrolling eligible candidates each Fall and Spring semester.
To learn more about SKY DIVE, contact Franklin-Simpson Center Campus Director Kelcie Richart at mailto:kelcie.richart@kctcs.edu, Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Associate Director Samantha Mallory at mailto:samantha.mallory@kctcs.edu, or Deputy Emily Casada at mailto:emily.casada@simpsoncojail.org.