Inmates of Northern Nevada Correctional Center listen to guest speaker Senator Mark Amodei R-Carson City during a graduation ceremony at the prison Wednesday afternoon. Inmates from left are: Edward Macafee, Gregory Johnstone, Gregory Jennings, John Hart, and Steven Crowley. photo by Rick Gunn
Joshua Rogers was supposed to graduate from Carson High School in 1995, but he didn't make it.
"I chose a different path," he said. "I chose a path that hurt my family and hurt myself."
In prison, he found his way back to the right path.
"You can't understand how good it feels to be standing in front of you in my cap and gown," he told a small crowd gathered at Northern Nevada Correctional Center on Wednesday as 20 high school graduates and seven college graduates were honored.
"There's a lot of things in life that can be taken from us," said keynote speaker Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City. "This is one of those things that, once you get it, it belongs to you forever. No matter what else happens, you have now gained an educational status that will belong to you for the rest of your lives."
Amodei told the graduates he has worked with fellow lawmakers over the past year to increase opportunities for inmates in hopes that they will improve their lives after incarceration.
"I salute you folks for taking advantage of what's available to try to be able to do that," he said.
For Richard Weddle, 44, his high school diploma symbolized a brighter life.
"While you're in here, it seems like there's nothing to accomplish," he said. "To accomplish something like this gives you the idea that there's something more to do. It's possible."
Deborah Jordan said the diploma not only gives her fiance hope, but gives her hope for their future together.
"He's proving that he wants to better himself," she said. "He still has a ways to go but when he gets out he can do something positive with his life."
She surprised her fiance, John Heath, 38, by showing up to the graduation ceremony. When he saw her, he lifted her off the ground in his embrace.
Dan Trissel's family was also proud to watch him receive his associate's of general studies degree.
"I'm the first one of all my brothers to get a degree," he said. "It says I did something."
He hopes his effort will set an example for his son, Chris, who attended the ceremony with Dan's parents Terry and Cynthia Trissel.
Amodei told the students that Americans love a comeback story.
"You folks have taken the first step in writing that story," he said. "Keep writing it. Don't let the book stop at this chapter."
Rogers, 26, said his next goal is to graduate from college. He is getting ready to be released from prison soon and plans to enroll for fall classes at Western Nevada Community College.