"Imprisoned for nearly eight years after committing what he calls "a violent gang-related crime," Nguyen found his own redemption through persistence, hard work and whip-smart intelligence, along with crucial assistance from Rising Scholars, an empowering SCC program that serves incarcerated, formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students facing similar challenges. Today, Nguyen, a grateful, focused pre-law sociology major at UC Berkeley, continues to give back to those saddled with a rough background comparable to his."
"'I was born to two parents involved in gang life,' Nguyen said. 'They consumed a lot of drugs, and I was literally born into drugs.' Adopted by his maternal grandmother, who raised him in a troublesome environment, he dropped out of school at 16. Enrolled at SCC from 2021 to 2024, Nguyen earned four associate degrees: liberal arts, humanities, sociology and psychology, the latter two transferable to a four-year university. He managed this, incredibly, while incarcerated in Orange County Juvenile Hall, thanks in large part to Rising Scholars."
""I knew Charlie would be a successful student the first time I met him," said Albert Alvano, director of Rising Scholars and assistant professor and counselor at Santiago Canyon College's Division of Continuing Education. "I immediately saw his curiosity, his persistence and his advocacy for himself and his classmates." For more than 30 years, before what was originally called "The Orange Campus" officially became known as Santiago Canyon College, faculty have taught noncredit college courses in OC jails, focusing on such topics as parenting, substance abuse and workforce preparation."
Charlie Nguyen was imprisoned for nearly eight years after committing a violent gang-related crime and later rebuilt his life through persistence, intelligence, and support from Rising Scholars. He enrolled at Santiago Canyon College from 2021 to 2024 and earned four associate degrees: liberal arts, humanities, sociology and psychology, with sociology and psychology transferable to a four-year university. He achieved these credentials while incarcerated in Orange County Juvenile Hall. He is now a pre-law sociology major at UC Berkeley who gives back to justice-impacted peers. Rising Scholars and SCC faculty provide noncredit jail courses and counseling focused on parenting, substance abuse and workforce preparation.
Read at The Mercury News
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