Eight women at Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center have reached a significant milestone by earning Certificates in Hospitality, Tourism, Convention, and Event Planning. This achievement is part of the College of Southern Nevada's (CSN) Prison Education Program. The event held on December 5th, titled "A Winter Wonderland, Our Story," celebrated their accomplishments.
The gymnasium was transformed into a winter wonderland with decorations crafted by the inmates themselves. During the event, they presented creative business plans for transitional housing and reentry programs as part of their final projects. The atmosphere was filled with energy as attendees enjoyed food and games while admiring the artwork created by these women.
Governor Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN) were instrumental in supporting this initiative through the T-Mobile Recovery Grant for incarcerated women. Their support provided essential resources for educational opportunities within the facility.
Dr. Genevieve Minter, CSN’s Prison Education Program Manager, expressed her admiration for the participants' progress: “Most of the completers were former students of mine over the past few years, and I can see how far they have come in how much they believe in themselves.”
Warden William Reubart welcomed guests to the celebration which concluded with remarks from Dr. James McCoy, CSN’s Vice President for Academic Affairs. His message emphasized resilience and encouraged everyone to pursue their educational goals: “Education has the power to change lives.”
Dr. Dan Corsi, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at CSN remarked on future prospects: “We are looking ahead to our May ceremony where we hope to have more certificates earned from those not only in our Hospitality program but also in our HVAC program.”
This accomplishment marks more than just earning certificates; it signifies confidence and skills that pave pathways toward new opportunities supported by education.