Ten incarcerated men in Illinois are marking an achievement years in the making.
The inmates earned Bachelor of Arts degrees through the Augustana College Prison Education Program during a commencement ceremony held at the East Moline Correctional Center, a minimum-security prison, on Thursday, May 28, per local ABC affiliate WQAD. Family members, faculty and fellow students gathered to honor the graduates, whose class was more than double the size of the program’s first graduating class in 2025.
Among those crossing the stage was Justin Dismuke, who served as the class speaker and reflected on the significance of the moment.
“Graduating today is just so surreal,” Dismuke told the outlet. “Like, I didn’t expect 20 years ago that I would be here in this moment, with family and friends, being celebrated like this. So it’s just surreal.”
He added that the milestone felt even more meaningful with his loved ones there to cheer him on.
“I wouldn’t be here today without them, because they’ve been my support — especially my mother and my auntie — they’ve been my rock bed for all these years,” Dismuke said. “My father always telling me that I’m better than the number attached to my name.”
Dismuke said he hopes to use his degree to pursue youth outreach, community awareness and violence prevention work someday. His parents, Kevin and Veda Dismuke, were among those in attendance.
“It’s kind of what we had wished for. To see him be able to do this is great,” Dismuke’s father told WQAD.
His mother said she is looking forward to the day her son is released.
“Be able to hug him once he leaves here without having to walk through gates or metal detectors,” she said. “I think that would be the highlight for me.”
Graduate Maurice Jones described earning his degree as a chance to show what is possible.
“This is my second opportunity to show my family that I can do this,” Jones said. “We want to be able to contribute to our communities, and this means a lot.”
One of the most meaningful parts of the ceremony, Jones said, was having his son, Makhel, there to witness the achievement.
“I have my son here today, and he was able to see his father in a different light,” Jones said.
Ladrina Wilson, a member of Augustana College’s Board of Trustees, said the ceremony highlighted the transformative power of education.
“Talent doesn’t discriminate,” Wilson said. “Sometimes our circumstances are different, but this is proof that there’s talent all around us.”
The Augustana Prison Education Program is a full-time BA degree program, per the program’s website, and over 40 men were enrolled in the program during the 2025-2026 school year.
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