Dwayne Johnson attends Miami-Dade Corrections Boot Camp graduation

MIAMI (WSVN) -- One of the University of Miami's best known alumni came back to his hometown for a special graduation, Monday.

For the cadets at Miami-Dade Corrections Boot Camp, it was the day they had been waiting for. After six months of intense training, the group of young men and women were finally graduating.

Friends, family and officials were all in attendance, but the graduates got a special visit from Hollywood star -- and former UM student -- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. "People need to see this impact that this place is having on our young men and women," he said as he address the cadets and audience members. "More importantly than that, the world needs to see our young men and women and seeing them rise up from challenges, face adversity the way they have, and gotten better."

Johnson told 7News he first visited the facility three years ago and was inspired by their stories, so he approached his production team and pitched a documentary looking at the successful boot camp. "The moment I walked into the facility, I immediately knew this place was something special," Johnson said. "We've been shooting there for the past six months, getting to know the cadets, seeing their transformation, seeing them change, getting to know their families, and we're all very, very excited about it."

The boot camp aims to help troubled youth get back into the community, with nearly 90 percent of graduates successfully turning their lives around. Johnson said he's happy to bring attention to the program and reassured cadets that they will get their second chance. "I wanted them to know that life does go on, and they're gonna have another opportunity," he said.

Johnson's documentary, titled "Rock and a Hard Place," will air on HBO.