Thirteen women at Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center marked a powerful milestone this spring, completing workforce training in Hospitality and HVAC through a partnership with the College of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Department of Corrections. Ten students earned HVAC certificates and three completed the hospitality program—each stepping forward into a future they are determined to reshape.
The heartfelt ceremony was part of a full-day conference that also included an art auction featuring work from 12 students, with proceeds donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Earlier in the day, Dr. Genevieve Minter, CSN’s Prison Education Manager, led a tour of the facility for a group of esteemed guests, showcasing classroom and workshop spaces where women are building career-ready skills behind the wall.
“This isn’t about second chances,” Dr. Minter said. “It’s about the first real chance many of these women have had to become who they were meant to be.”
The theme of reinvention echoed throughout the afternoon, underscored by a series of moving remarks that honored the students’ determination and transformation.
Las Vegas Councilwoman Nancy Brune offered the keynote address, referencing The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. She drew a connection between the book’s central journey and the women’s own path, noting, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”—a sentiment that resonated deeply across the room.
Hope for Prisoners Founder Jon Ponder delivered an impassioned message, asking the women to look at their hands. “These lines represent your past,” he said. “But today, we’re pushing the reset button.” His words, met with tears and applause, set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
Several students, including Leandra Smith and Karen Kincaid, shared their personal journeys, praising their instructors Dr. Grayce James and Mr. Spencer Dunwoody for their encouragement and support. The ceremony concluded with electrifying remarks from Dr. James McCoy, CSN’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, who wove together the many stories of the day into a unifying message of hope, resilience and focus. “You are not who you were—you are who you are becoming,” he said.
