JOHN JAY COLLEGE— The commencement procession of CUNY faculty clad in their ceremonial regalia exited the blue room staging area nearby, passed down the center aisle of seated guests, and filed onto the gym stage of Otisville Correctional Facility on Friday, May 8. The group headed towards the first ever City University of New York graduation held in prison.
Banners emblazoned with CUNY, BMCC, Prison-to-College Pathways and John Jay College of Criminal Justice hung from various places inside of the recreation center of 57 Sanatorium Road in Mt. Hope, New York.
A trio of incarcerated individuals, graduating students David Adamson, Tyler Gaston and Derek Smith, garbed in cap and gown, sat in the front row of guests attending the historic commencement.
