It was, to be sure, the biggest night of their lives Friday evening when Riverland Community College commencement exercises were held at Riverside Arena in downtown Austin.

The commencement ceremony marked the culmination of the dedication, commitment and self-sacrifice demonstrated by students.

It was a time for the “Riverland community” to celebrate the graduates’ success with a memorable event to last a lifetime in honor of their achievements.

Terrence Leas, president, welcomed all to the commencement on a rainy Friday night in Austin.

James H. McCormick, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, told the Riverland graduates they are among the 34,000 MnSCU graduates this year. “Eighty percent of you will stay in Minnesota to work or continue your education,” he said. “You are the future of our state.”

Students speakers were Mark Wachlin earned an associate’s degree in human services.

He was one of 35 MnSCU students to be named Academic All-State Team honorees this year.

Wachlin gave a no-holds-barred account of failures in his life: A motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed; the deaths of a brother and sister-in-law in a motorcycle accident; divorce; a business failure; being diagnosed with cancer and then seeing cancer in remission.

Wachlin didn’t give up and credited higher education with the turn around in his life.

“Knowledge has given me back my life,” he said.

Wachlin plans to attend Metropolitan University and earn a four-year degree in drug and alcohol counseling.

Claudia Roman-Jiminez graduated from Northfield High School and was the first in her family to go on to college.

She also plans to transfer to a four-year college and study education with hopes of becoming a teacher.

Roman-Jiminez praised Riverland faculty with inspiring her to study hard and succeed.

“The faculty at Riverland made a big difference in my life,” she said.

Jon Olseth, an English and humanities instructor at Riverland since 1999, gave the faculty remarks.

Gauber “Mo” Mohammed, an Owatonna community leader born in Pakistan, received this year’s honorary degree.

Ron Langrell, executive vice president at Riverland, assisted Leas in introducing guest speakers.

The details of the 2008-09 graduating class showed 565 students graduated from Riverland’s fall, spring and summer semesters this school year. Approximately 241 participated in the commencement ceremony.

Graduates included students from the fall, spring and summer semesters. Students attended the Albert Lea and Austin campuses, the Owatonna College and University Center and enrolled in Riverland’s online courses.

Some students (53 percent) received an associate (AA, AS, AFA or AAS) degree, while others earned degrees, certificates and diplomas from various Riverland career programs (47 percent).

Graduates of the career programs are expected be ready to immediately enter the workforce.

Students with associate degrees may choose to continue their education at a four-year college or university or begin their career.

The age range of this year’s graduates is between 17 and 60.

Approximately 39 percent of the graduates are 21 years old or younger; 61 percent are over 21.

Of those graduating, 400 students (71 percent) have taken at least one course online.

Twenty students were post-secondary enrollment option students graduating from both Riverland Community College and their respective high schools in the region.

The commencement audience was entertained with special music by the Riverland College Choir under the direction of Scott Blankenbaker.

Earlier Friday, Riverland faculty and staff were honored at a special awards, recognition and retirement ceremony.

The big day was capped with the 2008-09 graduation party at Holiday Inn of Austin.