Randy Hassel stood at a lectern, and a smile broke across the 18-year-old's face as he announced his plans to attend the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton in the fall.
A crowd of 30 people in dresses, suits and ties burst into a standing ovation, a brief minute of fuss that left Hassel slightly sheepish.
But for the surroundings, the scene Thursday afternoon could have been mistaken for a graduation party or signing day event.
Instead, Hassel's announcement came as state officials unveiled a partnership between the Arkansas Division of Youth Services and Shorter College that allows teenagers to earn college credit while at the state's largest youth lockup.
The program, which started June 1 at the Arkansas Juvenile Assessment and Treatment Center near Alexander, allows youths who have earned their high school diplomas or GEDs to attend college classes taught by a Shorter College professor, who travels to the lockup four times a week.
Through the partnership, students can earn up to 12 credit hours during the summer, and nine credit hours during the fall and spring semesters. The credit can then be transferred to colleges and universities around the state after a student's release from custody.
Shorter College President Jerome Green said the program was made possible by a change in U.S. Department of Education regulations last December that allowed young detainees to be eligible for Pell grants and other Title IV financial aid.
Previously, juvenile delinquents held at state or county lockups had been deemed "incarcerated persons," which excluded them from receiving financial aid for college classes, he said.
Once the regulation was changed, administrators at Shorter College developed a curriculum and worked with Youth Services Division Superintendent James Washington and his staff to start classes by the beginning of the college's summer session.
Over just the past five weeks, Green said he's seen a difference in the 10 youths who have taken classes so far.
"They are now college students. They think of themselves differently. They carry themselves differently. They perceive of their futures differently," he said.
Green said the program fits with the goal of Shorter College, the historically black, two-year liberal arts institution that is supported by the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
"The juvenile detainee population here at DYS represents a unique opportunity to positively capture, redirect and develop at-risk young people and move them into a position of being productive, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens of Arkansas," Green said.
Youth Services Division Director Marcus Devine said the college classes add to already robust educational programs at the Alexander lockup, which has a fully accredited high school that can award diplomas.
The lockup -- operated by G4S Youth Services under a contract of about $10 million per year -- houses about 100 of the state's most behaviorally troubled youths. In recent years, the facility has come under outside scrutiny for a rash of physical assaults.
But Devine said Thursday that there have been few behavioral problems with the youths who attend the college classes.
"This program calms kids down significantly," he said, noting that he expects class size to expand over the next year. He said he's also open to looking at how other treatment centers across the state can incorporate a college curriculum.
Professor Shayla Williams, who taught the inaugural classes of accelerated writing and speech, said she's seen a boost in her students' confidence and self-esteem.
Hassel, who is from Hector, said, that if it wasn't for Williams, he might not have completed the two classes and earned the six college credits.
"I felt like giving up a lot of times, but I had Ms. Williams backing me up," he said.
Hassel said he arrived at the Alexander lockup five months ago and "wasn't a very good child."
"But being here, this has helped me out a lot. It has taught me there are more things in my life than getting in trouble. Now, I'm in college. I've already gotten college credits for passing classes," he said, noting that he chose to speak publicly because he believes in the program.
Hassel said he plans to pursue training as a truck driver or possibly take classes that would prepare him for a job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
But before that happens, Hassel said he's got a court hearing this month. And he's hopeful that the judge will release him so he can make the fall enrollment deadline.
"I'm just ready to get out of here, and whenever I get out, I'm going to go back to college," he said.
NW News on 07/04/2015