In Kewanee, Illinois, educators entered a white tent adorned in master’s attire, adding warmth on a chilly October morning. They were followed by 18 women dressed in purple robes with tassels featuring Northwestern University’s seal as ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ played. These women were cheered on by professors, family, and friends. The gathering celebrated their graduation from the Northwestern Prison Education Program.
Since 2018, Northwestern University’s program has provided incarcerated individuals in Illinois the opportunity to pursue education. Options range from college-readiness courses to a bachelor’s degree. This event marked a historic moment. It was the first time incarcerated women in the U.S. received a bachelor’s degree from a top university. The inaugural cohort traveled nearly 100 miles for the ceremony.
The women, students from Logan Correctional Center, began their journey in fall 2021. Over five years, they studied social sciences with Northwestern professors, culminating in Bachelor of Science in General Studies degrees awarded on Oct. 16.
The ceremony featured notable speakers, including former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She praised the graduates, encouraging them to move forward with confidence. Program founder and philosophy professor Jennifer Lackey addressed each graduate, expressing admiration for their accomplishments and potential.
Throughout the event, graduates shared speeches about the program’s impact. They spoke of aspirations to become teachers, reform advocates, and practitioners of restorative justice. Graduate Stephanie Bonds, serving a 45-year sentence, was cheered on by her daughter Jala Johnson and granddaughter Klover Johnson. Jala traveled from Detroit to witness her mother’s accomplishment.
Excitement and emotion filled the air as each graduate took their diploma. Bonds, thrilled by her achievement, looks forward to applying her education in psychology. Her daughter Jala said, ‘My mom deserves this. She deserves everything that’s coming to her in the most positive way.’