HOMINY — Each carrying a diploma, more than 70 incarcerated men walked across the stage to shake the hand of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

Tuesday morning was graduation day at Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy, as dozens of inmates graduated with a degree or certificate at the 2019 Tulsa Community College Second Chance Commencement.

The participating men were part of the Second Chance Pell Grant Program, a pilot initiative allowing some incarcerated individuals to receive Pell Grants enabling them to pursue a degree or credential.

“I couldn’t have been more inspired to see all this achievement represented in these inmates here,” DeVos said. “To be able to advocate for second chance Pell Grant, this is just the greatest example of why that is necessary.”