Westchester County Jail inmates receive GEDs at graduation ceremony
<p>A special graduation ceremony was held at the Westchester County Jail Wednesday for inmates receiving their GEDs.</p>
News 12 Staff
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Jul 18, 2018, 9:31 PM
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Updated 2,115 days ago
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A special graduation ceremony was held at the Westchester County Jail Wednesday for inmates receiving their GEDs.
A total of nine inmates got their high school equivalency diplomas at the Valhalla jail, including 19-year-old Taionna Howard.
Howard said she was a victim of sex trafficking when she was 11 until 15 and was shot when she was seven months pregnant with her daughter.
Howard said she was a victim of sex trafficking when she was 11 until 15 and was shot when she was seven months pregnant with her daughter.
"I'm excited because I never thought I would graduate. This is for my daughter,” she said.
Inmates at the jail also have the opportunity to pursue their education beyond a high school diploma. Just a few weeks ago, the jail started offering a college course through a program run by Manhattan College.
The jail's high school GED program is run by the county in partnership with Southern Westchester BOCES.
