Beaufort County Community College celebrated its 2015 graduation ceremony, graduating a record 485 students.

Future graduates could be seen in caps and gowns as they filed into Washington High School’s Performing Arts Center, awaiting their big moment. In his welcome, Russell Smith, chairman of the BCCC Board of Trustees, told graduates, “these are special moments. Savor every bit of them.”

According to Betty Gray, public information officer for BCCC, this year’s graduating class is the largest in the college’s 48-year history, with 485 graduates receiving certificates, diplomas and degrees. Among the graduates was the largest class of Associate Degree Nursing degree holders, with 51 students earning that degree. Another record — of those 51 ADN students, 11 were men, according to Gray.

John E. Skvarla III, N.C. Secretary of Commerce, gave the commencement address, citing the dedication, effort and perseverance of the graduates and noted that while many college students such as those at four-year universities worry about getting tickets to football games, community college graduates have other concerns, ranging from worrying about paying for car maintenance to figuring out daycare concerns for their children. He told graduates that now that they have their diplomas, certificates and degrees, “statistically speaking, you are right now in the top one-third of academic achievers in the United States. You have become an integral part of the economic fabric of Beaufort County and the nation.”

Skvarla also said graduates have been able to contribute to the economy and help their families and others, as a result of their efforts.

“The price you had to pay to get here is a remarkable achievement and you are to be lauded,” he said. “Your future is as big as your mind’s eye can envision it. You just have to envision where you want to be and where you want to go.”

Washington resident Angelia Stilley, a medical office administration graduate, gave comments on her journey from student to graduate and hopes to be employed at the local hospital or in a doctor’s office.

“I am so excited,” she said. “It’s been a long journey and I just thank God for blessing me to get this far. It seemed like at times it wasn’t going to happen, but I just thank God — wheew — it’s happening today.”

Daniel Salazar, a resident of Columbia, said he has family members in Mexico that have not graduated from high school and other family members, who are proud of his accomplishment — graduating from college. He aspires to be a public relations specialist and a motivational speaker.

“It feels like I’m on a wave of success,” Salazar said. “This is the first stepping stone into a successful future. I feel like I’m getting closer to my goals, and it’s just making my family proud. It’s just a great feeling.”

Other graduates like Earl Hines, a member of the Men of Success, a club at BCCC, gave comments, saying he wants to open his own photography business and how the club allowed for h