Comment on 20 Maine State Prison inmates receive college degrees

A group of 20 Maine State Prison inmates received degrees from the University of Maine at Augusta this week. Surrounded by family, university and prison staff, the men moved the tassels on their caps from right to left while proudly holding their degrees during a ceremony at the Maine State Prison in Warren on Tuesday. Fourteen of the men received associate degrees and six received bachelor’s degrees, according to a news release from the University of Maine at Augusta. In short remarks, the students spoke of how this opportunity will better their lives and thanked family and staff for supporting them when they didn’t think they could be successful in their educational pursuits. Since 2006, the Maine State Prison has been partnering with the University of Maine at Augusta to provide college courses to inmates.