It’s the end of the beginning for these bright students.

From 17- to 60-years-old, the 553 Riverland Community College students who graduated from Riverland’s fall, spring and summer semesters this year are about to embark on bigger challenges. For the 222 or so students who walked across the stage at Riverland’s commencement ceremony Friday night, it was enough to celebrate the accomplishment of earning a college degree.

“Yay!” Brenda Tuttle, 42, said. Tuttle was among the graduates at Friday’s ceremony. Tuttle is graduating with an associate degree in medical administrative assistant, and certificates for medical secretary and health unit coordinator. She’ll go on to a health unit coordinator position at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.