A familiar face from the big screen spoke to students Wednesday morning at Clay High School.

Actor Danny Trejo, who served stints in prison, told students that if an ex-convict like himself can be successful, they can too.

He also touched on his 50 years of sobriety and emphasized the importance of getting a good education.

"Education is the key to anything you want to do, anything," he said. "It doesn't matter what it is, from body builder to lawyer, you need education. And I was serious when I said when we have an opening for a job and 30 people show up, the first thing we ask is, 'Who has a high school diploma?'"

Trejo will also be speaking Wednesday night at the Dismas House annual dinner at Century Center.