Ivy Tech holds graduation ceremony for incarcerated welding students

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAV) – A special graduation ceremony was held Tuesday by Ivy Tech and the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility.

It was a celebration for seven people incarcerated at the facility who recently completed Ivy Tech’s welding training program.

The 90-hour program took place on Ivy Tech’s Terre Haute campus. It helps offenders learn skills that can help them find employment after release.

“Most of the folks enjoy being here because they’re away from the prison walls. That’s the obvious thing, but they also enjoy learning a skill and arguably some of these folks are some of our best students,” said David Will, Executive Director of Ivy+ at Ivy Tech’s Terre Haute campus.

Will said the program is beneficial to the entire community.

“We want to reduce the recidivism rate and providing offenders the opportunity to gain some skills so when they get released, they can get gainful employment to support themselves and their families while reducing the opportunities for repeat offenders and improving our communities, and providing a workforce for our local companies,” said Will.

Ivy Tech partners with the Indiana Department of Corrections to do this program.

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