>> THE MAN YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET HAVE BEEN CALLED MANY NAMES, MOSTLY INMATE, BUT THEY'VE ALSO BEEN CALLED STUDENT SCHOLAR, AUTHER AND NOW COLLEGE GRADUATE HISTORY MAKER LAST WEEK, THE NORTHWESTERN PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM GRADUATED ITS FIRST COHORT WITH MORE ON THE WAY.

>> FIRST GRADUATES IN CUSTODY IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO EARN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY.

IT'S NOT GRADUATION SEASON.

>> BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON TODAY WAS A LONG TIME COMING FOR THIS CLASS OF 2023 AGO.

THIS MOMENT RIGHT I DEFINITELY WANT >> FOR LAST WEEK STORY, WE FIRST MET BERNARD MCKINLEY AND HIS 15 CLASSMATES A YEAR AGO.

MIDWAY THROUGH THEIR LAST YEAR AT PROFESSORS AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS MAKING THE REGULAR TRIP TO STATE BILL CORRECTIONAL CENTER NEAR JOLIET FOR CLASSES.

>> IN BETWEEN CLASSES, STUDENTS DO THE WORK BEHIND PRISON WALLS.

THIS COHORT SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC.

>> THEY DID.

YOU 6 BY CORRESPONDENCE.

WE HAD STAFF DRIVING BOXES TO AND FROM REALLY COMMUNITY, GRASSROOTS EFFORT >> DURING THEIR CEREMONY, A CLEAR CELEBRATION IN A PLACE WHERE THERE'S OFTEN LITTLE TO CELEBRATE.

EACH GRADUATE.

GET A 2 MINUTE SPEECH.

THIS MOMENT.

IS THE CULMINATION OF LITERALLY 30 YEARS.

OF PEOPLE POURING INTO ME DEMONSTRATING WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED WHEN YOU COME TO PRISON, YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN EDUCATION NO MATTER WHAT.

I GUARANTEE IT.

>> BUT IT'S UP TO THE LAWMAKERS WHAT EDUCATION YOU GET AND HOW THEY INTEND TO USE IT AT DAWN COMMITTEE.

AND YOUR LIFE.

YOU THINK YOU DESERVE HOPE.

PURPOSE?

>> ONE OF THE GRADUATES 44 YEAR-OLD ANDRE PATTERSON, WHO USED HIS LESSONS IN PERFORMANCE TO MAKE HIS POINT.

I REALLY WANTED TO.

CONVEY TO TALENT THE CHALLENGES THAT I HAD TO PERSONALLY BUT ALONG THE WAY, WHILE I WAS FACING PERSONAL CHALLENGES.

>> I KIND OF HAD A REALIZATION THAT.

I WASN'T GOING THROUGH THIS JUST FOR ME.

I'M GOING THROUGH THIS FOR.

ALL OF US.

MY COMMUNITY HERE, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY, OUTSIDE.

>> PATTERSON GREW UP IN EVANSTON IN THE SHADOW OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

NEVER THINKING HE WOULD SOMEDAY HOLD A DEGREE FROM THE ELITE INSTITUTION, THOUGH HE DOES TODAY.

IT'S NOT THE DIPLOMA.

HE'S MOST PROUD THESE THINGS THAT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO ME.

>> THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT.

BUT IT'S THE JONI TO GET HERE.

AND IT'S THE POTENTIAL POSSIBILITY OF WHAT.

>> I CONTRIBUTE.

ANOTHER SHOW OF HOW EXCEPTIONAL SCENES LIKE THIS ARE RENOWNED JOURNALIST TOM COATS SERVED AS COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER.

I READ SOMEONE WHO WAS, YOU KNOW, COPING WITH STAGE 4 PROSTATE CANCER AS THEY WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

>> RATHER YOU THE SAME ONE THAT THIS IS YOUR BOOK TO WRITE.

>> TELLING THEM AND HOW MUCH YOU CAN RELATE TO WHERE THEY COME FROM.

AND I KNEW I HAD TO COME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW YOU.

BUT I KNOW YOU.

I DON'T KNOW YOU.

BUT I LOVE IT.

THROUGHOUT THE CEREMONY.

THERE WERE MULTIPLE CHEERS FOR ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR.

LOVE YOU.

JENNIFER >> JENNIFER LACKEY.

THE PROGRAM'S DIRECTOR AND THE COHORTS MATRIARCH PROFESSOR JENNIFER LACKEY WHO SAYS SHE DOES THIS WORK IN PART TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE PLACES LIKE NORTHWESTERN WITH TRIP, YOU KNOW, KIND OF >> MENTS RESOURCES AND EXCELLENCE REALLY SHOULD BE THE ONES TO STEP UP TO DO THIS WORK.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS SET A MODEL FOR WHAT PRISON EDUCATION CAN LOOK LIKE.

WE WANT TO SHOW WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND THAT YOU CAN TRULY OFFER THE SAME QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT YOU PROVIDE ON YOUR CAMPUS IS EVEN US FACILITY THAT HAS NOT SOME SECURITY STUDENTS BUT ALSO TO INSPIRE HOPE.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY TOO.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY DIRECTED AT LIKE WHAT ARE WHAT YOU DO WITH THIS ON OUTSIDE?

THIS IS A SPACE TO WHERE THERE ARE LIVES LIT AND BEING ABLE TO BRING MENTORS AND TUTORS SENT, YOU KNOW, TEA'S TO THIS SPACE IS LIFE CHANGING FOR MANY OF THE MEN HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND FOR THERE CHILDREN AND MOTHERS.

AND, YOU KNOW, LOVED ONES BACK HOME.

WHILE SOME OF THESE MEN MAY ONLY TRY THEIR DEGREES FROM INSIDE PRISON, OTHERS WILL RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

BENARD MCKINLEY IS ONE OF THEM GOING HOME IN MARCH AFTER 19 YEARS IN PRISON.

THIS IS WHAT YOU OPPORTUNITY.

LOOKS >> WIND IS NOT THE ROLE BLOCKS.

KEEPING FROM BEING ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE OTHER SOCIAL DYNAMICS THAT PUT IN PLACE OATH.

AND IF YOU GIVE THE CHANCE TO LIKE I THE CREWS GO REST IT.

>> BERNARD MCKINLEY WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN ILLINOIS TO TAKE THE L SAT WHILE INCARCERATED.

HE'S PLANNING TO APPLY TO NORTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL AND HOPES TO BECOME A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY.

THERE ARE 3 OR COHORTS OF MEN ENROLLED AT STATESVILLE, 2