NYU's Prison Education Program (PEP) celebrated its third annual graduation on Monday, October 28, 2019, with a ceremony at the Wallkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Graduates Rayvon Gordon, Jeffrey Grimes, James Keno, and Omar Padilla received associates degrees in Liberal Studies; two additional graduates, Darion Alls and Jonathan Salgado, did not attend the ceremony.

Through PEP, inmates can apply to NYU and take classes while incarcerated in the medium security facility.  Upon release, PEP students and graduates are encouraged to continue their studies at NYU's Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses. 

PEP currently enrolls 60 students at Wallkill prison and has educated more than 250 men through the program. PEP receives support from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who addressed the graduates at the ceremony, hosted by PEP Faculty Director Kim DaCosta.  Other speakers included Gallatin Dean Susanne Wofford, CAS Dean Gene Jarrett, Professor of History Steven Hahn, and NYU President Andy Hamilton.