SCI Waymart inmate-students who earned a Commonwealth Secondary Diploma or GED since the last graduation in Nov. 2019 were invited to attend a Cap and Gown ceremony. Eleven graduates atteneded the modified version of a full-scale graduation ceremony.
Three separate ceremonies were held to accommadte for zone movement, a key aspect of the DOC's COVID-19 migitation protocols.
Nonetheless, Pomp and Circumstance was played, caps and gowns were worn, and keepsake pictures were taken. Ms. Andrews, adult basic education teacher, read the poem "Always Be A Student" by Joanna Fuchs. Mr. Erdmann, adult basic education teacher, led attendees in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and Principal Michelle Lipko encouraged graduates to fill their diploma case with additional educational achievements.
SCI Waymart's administration (Supt. Miller, Deputy Supt. for Centralized Services Grillo and Corrections Classification Program Manager McDermott) along with Case Manager Joe DeAngelis and Treatment Specialists Denise Bomba and Michele Spataro, attended to show their continued support for the graduates. Similar ceremonies will be held later in the fall to recognize inmates who earned industry certifications and credentials in SCI Waymart's business and vocational programs.