Thirty-three Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) graduated from Defy Ventures’ “CEO Of Your New Life” program at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution (TSCI) on Jan. 30. This was the largest class graduation in the state of Nebraska thus far.

“I think they should be in every institution,” TSCI Warden Brad Hansen said of Defy Ventures. “They’re one of many good quality programs we’ve got here.”

Currently, 180 EITs are enrolled in Defy programming throughout the state of Nebraska – both in correctional facilities and after release. TSCI kicked off its second class on Jan. 29 with 45 new EITs. Nearly fifty women will start the program at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW) on Feb. 15. Defy programming will also begin at the Lincoln Correctional Center (LCC) in August.

“I don’t know if there’s a better investment we can make in the state,” said Jeremy Bouman, Nebraska executive director of Defy Ventures.