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SPECIAL TO THE DAILY NEWS

On Wednesday, March 19, Sheriff Jason Smith delivered the keynote speech at the Rayburn Correctional Center 2025 Education Graduation to over 150 graduates and supporting family members. The ceremony presented associate’s degrees from Ashland University and Northshore Technical Community College, HiSET high-school equivalency diplomas, and certificates from various vocational and technical programs including welding, building, and small engine repair. The ceremony also honored over 40 Sober-Living and transition program graduates as they completed the required hours and coursework to better their lives.

Sheriff Smith said, “I might not know many of you personally, but I couldn’t be more proud of what you’ve done in taking the bold first step in improving your lives. Education isn’t about teaching you how to make a living, it’s about teaching you how to live. One of the key aspects of these programs is the connections that you make with positive-minded people, and with the right network of people supporting you, I’m confident that you can achieve great things.”

RCC Warden Travis Day and former assistant warden Beverly Kelly conveyed their pride and respect to the group of inmates, and wished them well as they move on to brighter futures once their sentences have been served. The vocational skills, education, and friendships that they earned through RCC’s various educational programs are a big step in the right direction, and something that these men can take with them as they rejoin their communities.