5 inmates at jail earn high school diplomas

The graduates said they’d like to continue their education.

YOUNGSTOWN — The pride of accomplishment was etched on every face.

Five inmates entered the Minimum Security Misdemeanant Jail as school dropouts, convicted of crimes that range from driving under suspension to negligent homicide. While at the Commerce Street facility, they earned a General Equivalency Diploma.

“Oh, I’m so proud of him,” Pamula Perez said Wednesday of her 20-year-old son, Aundrae. “He’s very smart, but he dropped out of school when he turned 18. It’s sad that it took him to get in here to graduate, but it served as a wake-up call.”

Sheriff Randall A. Wellington handed out diplomas Wednesday afternoon at the MSMJ all-purpose room, shook each graduate’s hand and wished them all well. The jail, closed for several years as a result of a lack of operating money, reopened in September 2007.

The next month, the lockup became one of the city’s eight ABLE, Adult Basic and Literacy Education, sites. The program, operated by the Youngstown Board of Education, holds classes at the MSMJ three days each week with two instructors, Janice Rudzik and Richard Basile.

“You’ve worked very hard, we’re proud of you,” the sheriff told the smiling graduates, all dressed in black caps and gowns. “You took a bad situation and made a good situation.”

Aside from Aundrae Perez, Leslieann Medicus, 37; JoVaun Lave, 20; Carolyn Bunch-Trammell, 40; and Latoya Martin, 24, received a GED on Wednesday. Medicus, who completed her jail sentence, is from Struthers; the rest, who remain incarcerated, are from Youngstown.

After the graduation ceremony, all said they’d like to continue their education and attend college. The graduates also said they wish they’d stayed in school and graduated.

“I also have a 15-year-old son, so Aundrae has to be a role model. I can’t wait to show him Aundrae’s diploma,” Pamula Perez said. “You can just see in Aundrae’s face how proud he is.”

Aundrae said he learned a lot in the GED classes, especially math.

“I’m excited — after 20 years — to have a diploma,” said Medicus, who dropped out her senior year in high school. “I was in here 45 days and studied my butt off. I’d read in the pod and do my homework.”

Martin said she dropped out of school in the seventh grade, after what some of her friends had done.

“I made a mistake, I ran with the wrong people,” Martin said. “I’ve done every [educational] program you could do in here.”

Guest speaker Michael Grzebienowski, a 63-year-old retired teacher, told the graduates that they are to be admired for their accomplishment.

He recalled a student who kept wanting to drop out of high school but managed to stay — finally graduating at age 20. Finishing school, he said, is important, regardless what age.

“The diploma gives you identity,” Grzebienowski said. “There are a lot of opportunities out there. Don’t sit still, don’t rest on your laurels.”