HOUGHTON -- Cheering fans packed the John MacInness Student Ice Complex in Houghton Saturday morning, but they weren't there for a hockey game.
The stars were a thousand Michigan Tech Huskies marching their way toward graduation.
"Surreal. The word I've been using all week is surreal," said Grant Cox, a Mechanical Engineering major.
This year's commencement speaker was Martha Sullivan, a Tech graduate herself, whose successful career will lead her to assume the role of CEO at Sensata Technolgies next year.
"When I look at the path I chose, it really began right here at Tech," reflected Sullivan. "Not just my major, but some of the things that really interested me that I decided to pursue in the world, and I know this great group of students will be able to do exactly the same thing."
Like recent graduates, the class of 2012 comes of age during tough economic times and an uncertain job market.
"Challenge is opportunity, and the opportunity here is that we're in a time of so much change in the world. They can make their own direction, so they're going to be challenged to bring new ideas to define their career path."
For many students, Michigan Tech helped provide the opportunity to connect with other students who share different experiences.
"A lot of diverse, diversity in terms of people coming from all nations from all over the world, but also diversity in terms of opportunities to engage with people from various backgrounds," reflected Tsitsi Hungwe, a Molecular Biology and Biochemistry major.
As the class of 2012 stands ready to take on the real world, they are leaving behind some parting advice for those just about to embark on the higher education experience.
"Do what you want to do, don't worry about how you think you're going to be seen," said Brennan Tymrak, a Mechanical Engineering major. "It's just more important to do what interests you and what's going to be best for you in the long run."
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