In a milestone moment for Central Oregon Community College’s prison education program, nine students at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras received associate’s degrees on June 9, 2026 — the first class ever to earn college degrees through the facility’s COCC partnership.
The ceremony, held from 1 to 3 p.m. at Deer Ridge, drew COCC staff, supporters, and family members who gave the graduating class a standing ovation as they received their diplomas. The event also recognized welding certificate recipients.
A Program Two Years in the Making
COCC launched the associate’s degree program at Deer Ridge two years ago, part of a broader expansion of educational opportunities behind bars in Oregon. The Pell Grant restoration under the 2021 FAFSA Simplification Act opened doors for incarcerated students nationwide, enabling programs like this one to take root.
Graduate Gemini Tippett delivered a commencement speech at the ceremony, having earned his Associate of Arts from COCC. His story and others like it represent what advocates for prison education say is one of the most effective tools for reducing recidivism and building stronger communities.
A Community Connection
The Deer Ridge program doesn’t just serve students inside — it connects them to the wider Madras community. Positive Action Club president Sam Hannah, one of the first program graduates, has helped lead donation drives including the club’s recent $1,200 contribution to the Madras Community Food Pantry.
“To show that change is possible, rehabilitation is possible, and that even though prison limits my circumstances doesn’t limit my effect on the broader community,” Hannah said.
COCC’s Growing Madras Footprint
The Deer Ridge milestone comes as COCC continues expanding its presence in Jefferson County. The newly transformed COCC Madras Campus opened in January 2026 and now offers nursing, nursing assistant, and medical assistant programs in addition to its existing curriculum. A new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program began accepting applications on June 1.
COCC’s dual investment — in the transformed Madras campus and in education at Deer Ridge — reflects a college that sees Jefferson County not as a satellite, but as a core part of its mission.