HANCOCK -- Saturday, another group of students in the U.P. took their triumphant walk of glory. Family and friends filled the gym to watch students from Finlandia University graduate, all 160 of them.

Heidi Wingerson, a nursing student, says after three years, it was worth the struggle.

"I'm very excited, I'm happy to have all of my classmates here with me. We've worked very hard to be here, and it finally paid off, and we're very excited," said Wingerson.

"You will leave here as an alumni from Finlandia University. You will then embark on a journey known as the rest of your life," said Rogers.

Finlandia alumnus, Stanley Rogers, gave some words of advice to the 2012 grads.

"Continue to work hard. Be dedicated to what they want to accomplish and to accept opportunities to learn and grow to help them with their success," Rogers said.

Finlandia is adopting a new tradition:  instead of the valedictorian speaking to the class, the student representative had the honors. This year it goes to Dawn Engman. She leaves the class of 2012 with these inspirational words.

"The time to move forward is not next year, the time to move forward is not next week, the time to move forward is not tomorrow. The time is now," said Engman.