There was nothing ordinary about lunch at Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center on Dec. 18, 2025.
Six women graduated from the College of Southern Nevada’s culinary program during the first-ever prison education luncheon celebration. Family and friends filled the gymnasium as faculty and college leadership gathered to celebrate what the day represented: a fresh start.
The space had been transformed for the occasion. Chairs were draped in black fabric accented with gold bows, and handmade holiday decorations wrapped the room. High on the gym walls, bold painted messages left by women who came before seemed to speak directly to the graduates below. “Recreate.” “You are enough.” The six women sat together in crisp white culinary uniforms, ready for their moment.
The ceremony was led by Dr. Genevieve Minter, Prison Education Manager, and included remarks from hospitality faculty, Councilman Isaac Barron of Ward 1, Dr. Grayce James, President Dr. Klippenstein, and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. James McCoy.
Barron set the tone early with remarks that were deeply personal. He shared his family’s experience with addiction, speaking about his daughter’s near-fatal struggle with fentanyl and her ongoing path to recovery. His message to the graduates focused on perseverance and hope.
“Keep pushing, even when it feels heavy,” Barron told the women.
He also quoted civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, reminding the graduates that “once you earn an education, no one can take that from you.”
Dr. Grayce James followed with remarks that centered on care and commitment. She spoke about how much the women’s dedication has meant to her as an educator and how consistently seeing them show up to better themselves gives her purpose.
Watching their growth, James said, is a reminder of why this work matters.
Then came Dr. McCoy, and the room shifted.
Known for closing with impact, he invited the women to step forward and huddle at the front of the stage, asking them to close their eyes and think back to elementary school.
“Do you remember your teachers?” McCoy asked. “Say their names out loud.”
One by one, voices filled the gym as the women called out the names of teachers who once believed in them.
With their eyes still closed, McCoy asked them to think about their childhood dreams and the twists, turns, and circumstances that led them to Florence McClure.
“You didn’t think you would end up here, right?” he asked.
“No,” the women responded together, tears rising, hands wiping cheeks.
McCoy reframed the moment as a beginning rather than an ending. While the women may be known by an NDOC number today, he said, this ceremony marked a turning point.
“Today, you’re CSN students,” McCoy told them. “You have an NSHE ID number now and a future that’s still unfolding.”
Flanking the stage were the graduates’ final projects, displays highlighting their knowledge of food safety, kitchen tools, and hospitality fundamentals. The projects served as a visual reminder that the program is about more than certificates, it’s about believing in what comes next.
For six women in white, surrounded by family, faculty, and encouragement, the celebration was proof that dreams, no matter how delayed, are still worth chasing.
Earlier this month, CSN celebrated another milestone at High Desert State Prison, hosting the facility’s first-ever welding graduation ceremony in partnership with the Nevada Department of Corrections. The event marked a new chapter for prison education at High Desert and reflected the growing collaboration between CSN faculty, correctional staff, and leadership committed to creating meaningful pathways forward.
Seven men completed the welding program, with five able to attend the ceremony alongside family members, including a teenager and a 4-month-old baby. High Desert staff shared that seeing the ceremony brought new meaning to their work and affirmed that months of effort were leading to real outcomes. Speakers emphasized that this inaugural group are pioneers, laying the groundwork for future cohorts.
Clark County Assembly member Jovan Jackson delivered the keynote address, a message many of the graduates visibly connected with, followed by closing remarks from McCoy. He encouraged the men to return one day and speak to students who will follow in their footsteps, reinforcing the idea that this moment was not only about completion, but about leadership and legacy.
As family members watched with pride, emotions ran high. Several students fought back tears as they stepped to the microphone, the weight of the moment settling in. By the end of the ceremony, the room had softened into smiles and anticipation for what comes next.
Across both ceremonies, one message rang clear. Education changes how people see themselves, and through CSN’s partnership with the Nevada Department of Corrections, these programs are helping students behind the walls claim new identities and new possibilities.
