After earning a college degree while incarcerated, Roy Blackmon faced a new challenge: navigating a traditional university campus. At Wayne State, personalized support helped him take the next step toward his bachelor’s degree.

For years, commencement at Lake Superior State University was a familiar tradition for Marc Boucher, Director of Library & Academic Services. But this year, as he watched 15 students cross the stage to receive their associate degrees through LSSU’s STEP UP program, the ceremony carried a different kind of weight. “This is by far the most powerful and meaningful commencement I have been to,” Boucher said. The graduates were members of STEP UP’s inaugural cohort, which began ta

A college degree can be a milestone. It can also become a foundation for leadership, advocacy, and community change. Jacara Moore graduated from Eastern Michigan University’s College in Prison Program in 2025 as a member of the inaugural cohort at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. She earned her Bachelor of General Studies degree with a 4.0 GPA, founded the EMU Business Club at WHV, and won EMU’s first annual Business Pitch Competition. After completing her certific