Sumner Rotary Awards Scholarship to Post-Prison Education Program Recipient

Editor's Note: The following is a press release from the .

The Post-Prison Education Program was founded in 2005 as a resource for prisoners and their families. The program provides services including tuition, housing, groceries, daycare and intensive mentoring. The program’s goal is to harness the power of education as a means of drastically reducing recidivism, or repeat criminal behavior. In Washington State, 67.5 percent of prisoners return to prison within three years of being released. Of students in the Post-Prison Education Program, less than 2 percent return to prison. Post-Prison Education Program provides access to education and unwavering support through gap scholarships and intensive mentoring. Education opens the door to a living wage, stable housing, and strengthened families – the most important factors in breaking the cycle of poverty and crime.

The Post-Prison Education Program provides a transformational experience for its students.  When asked to describe Shelly’s transformation, her husband says, “From meth cook to Supermom.” 

Shelly Klier grew up with eight other siblings. Her mother was addicted to heroin and Shelly did not receive the care she needed and deserved as a young child.  Shelly was considered smart, but a “problem child." At the age of 12 she was sent to do time in the Juvenile Youth Authority in California. Shelly served two more prison sentences before she was ready to make changes. When she was released from prison for the last time, she regained custody of her three children. She says that she will be forever grateful to the Post-Prison Education Program for helping her fight and win an out-of-state custody battle after which she was reunited with her youngest son Steven.

Shelly Klier is one of two women currently in the Welding Program at Bates Technical College, from which she will be graduating this February with both an Associate of Arts degree as well as her certificates in stick and wire welding. When asked about her transformation process, Shelly responds, “the most important lesson I have learned throughout all the hardships is that I must stop thinking like an addict, needing instant gratification all of the time, and instead learn to maintain the balance between patience and persistence.” It is this balance that has led Shelly to become an incredible success, a loving mother, an integral part of her family, and a straight A student.

The Rotary Club of Sumner is proud to award their second annual Post-Prison Education Program scholarship to Shelly Klier.

For more information, to make a donation, or to hear more success stories, please visit www.postprisonedu.org or call (206) 524-3333.

Rotary Club of Sumner was founded in 1926. Meetings are held every Tuesday for lunch at Branks Barbeque in Sumner.

Rotary Club of Sumner is a part of Rotary International with 1.2 million members worldwide.  The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.