WILLMAR -- Celebrating the academic accomplishments of 504 students, Ridgewater College said goodbye and good luck to the graduating Class of 2008 Friday at the Willmar Civic Center.
Students graduating from 44 different academic programs were honored during the college's graduation. Of the spring graduating class, 260 graduates "walked" at Friday's ceremony.
Turning a few heads with a return to Ridgewater College's ceremony, former college president Colleen Thompson Michels gave the commencement address.
"What an honor for me to be with you this evening as you graduate from this outstanding and very best community and technical college in Minnesota," Thompson Michels said during Friday's commencement address. "Of course, I say that with no prejudice whatsoever.
"I remember how I felt when I was in your position," Thompson Michels said. "Mostly, I remember wishing that the commencement speaker would just finish up and get on with it, so I will try to do that rather quickly."
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Thompson Michels advised the graduates that commencement is a time for thanking families, professors and college staff for their assistance during their academic lives.
She also said that there are a few important principles to remember in post-graduation life that will help graduates achieve anything they desire. Her words of advice ranged from the "be prepared" quotes of Ron Shapiro, the attorney and well-known sports agent, to citations from Peanuts character Charlie Brown about working hard and still enjoying life.
Thompson Michels ended her commencement address with a simple "thank you" to the graduates and a reminder to keep in touch with their alma mater.
Brittany Peterson, a graduate from Ridgewater's administrative assistant program, said keeping in touch might be the toughest part about graduation. Peterson said she'd miss "seeing all the people I met. That is the biggest thing I'll miss," but is happy to be "finalizing the whole thing" since graduating in the winter.
Agricultural Business graduate Josh Jungers said he looks forward to post-graduation life and starting his full-time job with Jungers' Farms in Bird Island. He said he'll keep in touch with Ridgewater by returning in a year to enter the college's farm operation management program.
According to Sam Bowen, director of public relations and marketing for Ridgewater College, 827 students applied for graduation throughout the 2007-08 school year. He said that figure is the highest it has been in the past four academic years.
Students from Ridgewater's liberal arts program made up a large portion of Friday's graduates, Bowen said. Those graduates earned an associate's degree in the program and most will continue their education at a four-year college or university, Bowen said.
