Alexandria Inmates Earn High School Diplomas

Five inmates graduated from the Alexandria Detention Center during a Thursday afternoon ceremony where they were each granted a high school diploma.

Undersheriff Tony Davis told the graduates before the packed room full of prisoners and graduates’ family members, “This is something that can never ever be taken away from you.”

The awards were presented to Dale Caison, Mauricio Gallardo, Justin Murray, Michaelyn Null and Deshawn Strattman by Krista Sofonia, the Adult Education Supervisor in the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.

Guest speaker John Porter noted that Thursday also marked opening day for the baseball season and said, “Everyone is starting with a clean slate from this day forward…and while you can’t play away games right now…you’ve done a major thing for you, your family and your future.”

Porter, who was a teacher and then principal at T.C. Williams High School as well as an assistant superintendent for the city’s school system, offered five pieces of advice: follow your dreams but have a good backup plan, don’t ever stop learning, don’t forget who helped you along the way, don’t forget what’s most important – family and friends, and don’t look back but keep moving forward and do what’s right for you. Porter now serves as executive director of nonprofit ACT for Alexandria.

Sheriff Dana Lawhorne was not able to attend the event, but asked that a letter he authored be read to the graduates in his absence. Lawhorne, who was a student of Porter’s at T.C., commended Porter for his wisdom and influence on so many students and stressed the importance of education.

Inmates who work toward getting a GED must enter a program taught by Sofonia that runs five days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The test is given four times a year.

Editor's Note: Two of the graduates declined to be photographed.