Wabash Valley Correctional Facility & Ivy Tech to Celebrate Offender Graduation

(TERRE HAUTE) – The Indiana Department of Correction will join its partner, Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute, to celebrate the 5th graduating class of male offenders from the Workplace Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) training class and the 7th graduating cohort from American Welding Society (AWS) training class.  The graduation will be held at the Ivy Tech Center for Workforce Development on Tuesday, October 15th, starting at 1:00 p.m. ET. One of the graduates will speak about their experience in the program. The media is welcome to attend but must arrive by 12:15 p.m. ET on October 15th.

The Media is welcome to attend but must RSVP by 1:00 p.m. ET on October 14th to Teresa Littlejohn at tlittlejohn@idoc.in.gov.

WHAT:     Computerized Numerical Control Certification Graduation
WHO:        Alexis Dean, Executive Director, Indiana Department of Correction
                   Dick Brown, Warden Wabash Valley Correctional Facility
                   Rod Dowell, Workforce Alignment Consultant Ivy Tech, Terre Haute
WHEN:     1:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, October 15, 2019                                     
WHERE:   Ivy Tech Community College                  
                    Center for Workforce Development                  
                    South Campus                  
                    1700 E. Industrial Drive                  
                    Terre Haute, IN 47802 

Background

As a part of Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda for 2018, the program trains men at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility for careers as entry-level CNC Operators and Welders. The CNC Graduates earned 3 National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certifications, while the Welding Graduates earned their American Welding Society (AWS) qualifications.  Graduates from both programs earned their Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) certification as well. 

  The ultimate goal is to align offenders with gainful employment upon release. Computerized Numerical Control and Welding are both exceptional pathways for released offenders, providing higher pay rates and stable employment upon re-entry. Currently, Indiana’s correctional facilities house about 27,000 offenders—and more than 90 percent of them will eventually be released back into Hoosier communities

Employers who are interested in hiring graduates are especially welcome to attend the ceremony and meet our graduates.

Learn more about welding HERE and Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) training HERE