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HOUGHTON -- Cal Wacker is getting ready to take the stage to receive his degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in Archeology from Michigan Tech.

“I got told there are only two things in life that mean the most,” said Cal.  “Help me, help me, help me, and thank you, thank you, thank you, and this day sort of means both."

He isn't your typical student.  Cal took time between high school and college to work in commercial archeology before pursuing a degree from M.T.U.  Originally from the East Coast, he quickly fell in love with Houghton and Michigan Tech.  He says his professors were a big reason for his success at the university.

"I got to do a lot because I had a very supportive faculty, a very supportive department who kicked me when I needed to be kicked, helped me when I needed to be helped," Cal said.

Cal's passion for archeology helped him foster relationships with M.T.U. faculty.

"We've spent time together outside the classroom doing archeology in field work situations where we're together 24/7 for weeks at a time,” said Patrick Martin, Professor of Archeology and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences.  “So he's an unusual student in that regard."

But Saturday marked the end of his journey at M.T.U.  It was the same story for many students at the university.  Cal is one of 300 students who took the stage.  There were a total of 400 graduates from the university this semester.

Commencement speaker and Congressman Bart Stupak told the students he felt he could relate to the mixed emotions they were experiencing.

"I’m like them today; we have a lot in common,” said Stupak.  “They're leaving and I’m leaving and we're both going to face new challenges, but we both have a great foundation with which to work from."

Congressman Stupak encouraged them to continue to seek out learning opportunities even after completing their formal education.

"Not only do you have to have the academic, but also the social skills, so never stop learning,”  Stupak said.

For now Cal plans to travel after school, but before leaving he bought a memento.

"I loved Houghton and Tech so much, I ended up buying a house up here," Cal said.

Now Cal has his own piece of Tech memories to visit whenever he wants.