Brett Thompson, as salutatorian of Bill Johnson Correctional Center's high school equivalency program, spoke to friends, families, classmates, staff and others who gathered June 22 for the BJCC graduation ceremoy.

"Welcome, and thank you for coming. I know some of you have traveled a great distance to be here today. We greatly appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this important milestone," Thompson said.

"When I was told I was going to be sent away to prison for 10 years, I didn't think I'd accomplish much more than reading a few hundred books and catching up on my s...