For many teens who serve time behind bars, getting out and going on to college may seem unrealistic or impossible. But thanks to a program founded by formerly incarcerated students, recently released inmates have a pathway to pursue college degrees at the University of California, Irvine. … [UCI undergraduate Shawn] Khalifa turned to programs like the Underground Scholars program at UCI, which gave him a path to higher education. Ryan Flaco Rising is also part of the Underground Scholars Program. He helped create the program at another UC and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in criminal justice at UCI.
 
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