Ten incarcerated men at the East Moline Correctional Center have graduated with bachelor’s degrees through a prison education initiative offered by Augustana College, marking a significant achievement in their academic and personal journeys.
The graduates were honored during a ceremony held on May 28 at the minimum-security correctional facility in Illinois. Family members, faculty, fellow students, and supporters gathered to celebrate years of academic work completed while the men were serving prison sentences.
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The graduating class was more than double the size of the program’s inaugural class in 2025, reflecting the continued growth of the college’s prison education initiative.
Graduate Justin Dismuke, who served as class speaker, described the occasion as a life-changing moment.
“Like, I didn’t expect 20 years ago that I would be here in this moment, with family and friends, being celebrated like this,” Dismuke said.
He credited his family, particularly his mother and aunt, for providing steadfast support throughout his incarceration. His parents, Kevin and Veda Dismuke, attended the ceremony and expressed pride in their son’s accomplishment.
“It’s kind of what we had wished for. To see him be able to do this is great,” his father said.
Dismuke said he hopes to use his degree after his release to work in youth outreach, community awareness and violence prevention programs.
Another graduate, Maurice Jones, said earning a degree allowed him to demonstrate a different side of himself to his family, especially his son.
“I have my son here today, and he was able to see his father in a different light,” Jones said.
He added that he intends to use his education to make a positive contribution to his community upon his release.
The Augustana College Prison Education Program provides incarcerated students with the opportunity to pursue a full-time Bachelor of Arts degree while serving their sentences. During the 2025-2026 academic year, more than 40 incarcerated men participated in the program.
Members of the college community say the initiative demonstrates the transformative power of education and its ability to create opportunities for personal growth and rehabilitation.
“Talent doesn’t discriminate,” said Ladrina Wilson. “Sometimes our circumstances are different, but this is proof that there’s talent all around us.”
Supporters of prison education programs argue that providing inmates with access to higher education can improve rehabilitation outcomes, reduce recidivism and help individuals successfully reintegrate into society after release.
For the ten graduates, the ceremony represented not only an academic milestone but also a symbol of hope, perseverance, and the possibility of a new beginning.
