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For a Washington State prisoner to earn an Associate’s degree is no easy achievement. State legislators decided years ago that no DOC funds can be spent on higher education for prisoners, even though college is the most effective means of preventing them from committing new crimes and returning to prison upon release.

UBB offers college courses though Ohio University and Edmonds Community College. Volunteer instructors from Seattle-area colleges and universities teach the courses based on curricula designed by these institutions. The men earn credit by passing tests written by these colleges or through portfolio assessments.

UBB did manage to pay the tuition for most of the men’s courses, according to UBB director Carol Estes, although the organization has not had the funding for the last two years to pay the tuition for all students. “We are very unhappy about this situation,” says Estes, “and we are working hard to change it.”

We are very proud of these graduates and thankful to all the donors who made their success possible!

The event will be held at the Life Enrichment Bookstore (5023 Rainier Avenue South, 98118).  The discussion will start at 6:30pm.  Suggested donation is $10 and all proceeds benefit UBB.  We hope to see you there!

More than 100 men at Washington State Reformatory will be recognized for their educational achievements. Many have completed “certificate” courses–not-for-credit instruction in subjects ranging from college prep English and Math, music theory, playwriting, business law, and writing for publication. Many others have completed college-level classes that would, if tuition money were available, entitle them to credit at Ohio University and Edmonds Community College. These college classes ranged from basic philosophy, sociology, psychology, and college math to Spanish, calculus, astronomy, and Renaissance poetry. Participation in the UBB program is voluntary, both for the men and for the instructors, who are local professionals and volunteer faculty members from local colleges and universities.

UBB will also have the honor of presenting several associates degrees from Ohio University to the men who’ve earned them, and recognizing men who’ve won other awards, including publication of their work in outside magazines and anthologies.

A UBB graduation is always an inspiring occasion, but this one will be extraordinary!

We successfully raised over $4000!

A special thanks to the following –

Ohana project church – donation of the space and all the food!!!!

Network Christian Ministries – donation of all the sound equipment!

Mary Gross – Rounding up all the wonderful music!

Baked goods – Thanks so much to all the talented people that provided delicious items to sell!

Set up crew and cleanup crew: The Amazing Caldellis Family

Sherri Caldellis – Organizing the entire event and supporting UBB endlessly!

The Students of UBB – Working tirelessly to educate themselves and their peers. They are the inspiration that makes all the hard work worth it!

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Certificates were awarded to students who completed college or certificate courses during the 2010 academic year. During 2010, 117 men from the Washington State Reformatory and 13 women from the Washington Corrections Center for Women earned 647 hours of college credit and 636 hours of certificate credit.

Speakers included Scott Frakes, Superintendent of Monroe Correctional Complex; Felix D’Allesandro, UBB student; Dolphy Jordan, former UBB student who was recently released; and Sherri Caldellis, mother of UBB student, Noel Caldellis.  The full program and list of honorees can be viewed here.