DOC/Helena College celebrate PEP graduates at MSP

• Carolynn Stocker
• May 09 2025

Today, five inmate students celebrated their hard work to become Helena College’s most recent graduates from the school’s automotive technology program.

This was the third class of students at Montana State Prison graduating from the program with a Certificate of Applied Science.

“At the Montana Department of Corrections, it is our goal to ensure the people leaving our facilities have the skills to pursue highly marketable careers in in-demand industries,” said DOC Director Brian Gootkin. “Today’s graduates have done the work to put themselves on the right path to build successful futures in the community.”

Students at MSP paid for the course with help from the Prison Education Program, formerly the Second Chance Pell Grant program. Pell Grants are a form of federal financial aid available to students with financial need, previously unavailable to incarcerated students. With the expansion of the program, the U.S. Department of Education selected Helena College, Great Falls College, Montana State University Billings, and Dawson Community College to provide postsecondary instruction to incarcerated students through the DOC.

Throughout the course, students did classroom lectures and hands-on learning at MSP. They also virtually attended classroom lectures using smart boards and other technology while the DOC team assisted them with the hands-on portion of the program. 

"I came in here as a criminal and now I'm leaving with a career, a career to be able to build a life that I wouldn't be able to do as a criminal," said student Quinn Jessen. " Fortunately, through the DOC, in collaboration with Helena College, I'll be able to have a career that will carry me through the rest of my life and support my family as well."

Helena College Dean/CEO Sandra Bauman attended the graduation ceremony to present the certificates.

“At Helena College, we believe in the power of education to transform lives,” said Bauman. “We’re proud of our MSP graduates and the hard work they’ve put in to reach this milestone. As they take the next step, we look forward to seeing them use their new skills as they reenter their communities.