You earned your associate degree from Donnelly through the Lansing Correctional Facility Program in 2009. How did you find out about the program and why did you choose to participate? Once I came to realization that some of my poor decisions had cost me several years of my freedom, I was determined not to allow those years to be wasted. So when I heard about the Donnelly program from other inmates, it was a natural fit for me and my goals. Earning a college education was a big goal of mine, and so I chose to participate in the program.
Numerous studies show that earning a college degree is the single most effective tool to lower recidivism and prevent individuals from returning to a life of crime after their release. How did Donnelly’s Lansing Program impact your life? Donnelly’s program at Lansing helped change my life in several ways, but the biggest way in which I felt its influence was in knowing that there were still those in society that had not given up on me yet. In my experience, people in prison feel as though one mistake has cost them the rest of their lives and that society will never accept them again. I believe it is this mindset that leads to high recidivism as those people feel as though there is nothing to lose, or that they will never be able to obtain employment so they have no other choice. Donnelly’s program is a great example of how our society reaches into these places to let people know that they do have a choice, and that they can persevere through hard work to become accepted members of society again. Donnelly was the first step in giving me that chance.
Which professor(s) from Donnelly did you work with most closely? What did they do to help you reach your goal? I worked with several professors from Donnelly, but none more closely than our program director, Dr. Steve Jansen. Dr. Jansen worked very hard for us in the very difficult environment that is Lansing Correctional Institution. He advocated for us with the administration, as well as bending over backwards to make sure we were able to adhere to academic standards even when outside sources made it very hard to do so. He poured his heart and soul into Donnelly’s program there, and I can tell you that I am not the only one who appreciates his dedication and persistence in helping us achieve our academic, and life, goals!
You recently graduated from Kansas State University. What is your degree in? My degree from KSU is in General Business with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship from the College of Business Administration. I chose this field because it has always been a dream of mine to own my own business.
Now that you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree, what are you up to? I will continue to grow and expand my business that I began almost two years ago. Hughes Housing and Restoration buys and restores distressed properties, and owns several houses that we use as rentals. It has been very rewarding to see my dream of owning a successful business come true. I also make a point to spend as much time as I can with my two beautiful daughters and my amazing wife.
Can you offer any words of wisdom or encouragement for those who face challenging circumstances? I would only like to share a quote that Dr. Jansen shared with me many years ago, and helped to inspire me to always continue moving forward. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Numerous studies show that earning a college degree is the single most effective tool to lower recidivism and prevent individuals from returning to a life of crime after their release. How did Donnelly’s Lansing Program impact your life? Donnelly’s program at Lansing helped change my life in several ways, but the biggest way in which I felt its influence was in knowing that there were still those in society that had not given up on me yet. In my experience, people in prison feel as though one mistake has cost them the rest of their lives and that society will never accept them again. I believe it is this mindset that leads to high recidivism as those people feel as though there is nothing to lose, or that they will never be able to obtain employment so they have no other choice. Donnelly’s program is a great example of how our society reaches into these places to let people know that they do have a choice, and that they can persevere through hard work to become accepted members of society again. Donnelly was the first step in giving me that chance.
Which professor(s) from Donnelly did you work with most closely? What did they do to help you reach your goal? I worked with several professors from Donnelly, but none more closely than our program director, Dr. Steve Jansen. Dr. Jansen worked very hard for us in the very difficult environment that is Lansing Correctional Institution. He advocated for us with the administration, as well as bending over backwards to make sure we were able to adhere to academic standards even when outside sources made it very hard to do so. He poured his heart and soul into Donnelly’s program there, and I can tell you that I am not the only one who appreciates his dedication and persistence in helping us achieve our academic, and life, goals!
You recently graduated from Kansas State University. What is your degree in? My degree from KSU is in General Business with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship from the College of Business Administration. I chose this field because it has always been a dream of mine to own my own business.
Now that you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree, what are you up to? I will continue to grow and expand my business that I began almost two years ago. Hughes Housing and Restoration buys and restores distressed properties, and owns several houses that we use as rentals. It has been very rewarding to see my dream of owning a successful business come true. I also make a point to spend as much time as I can with my two beautiful daughters and my amazing wife.
Can you offer any words of wisdom or encouragement for those who face challenging circumstances? I would only like to share a quote that Dr. Jansen shared with me many years ago, and helped to inspire me to always continue moving forward. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson