 Nearly 1,000 students from Central Lakes College can now call themselves alumni. After four different ceremonies on two separate campuses, Central Lakes College handed out nearly 1,000 degrees diplomas and certificates. Students graduated in areas of nursing, liberal arts and sciences and career and technical programs. President Harris Charlier says that today can only be described as the best day of the year. Students come to us with so many challenges. They're all different, but they come to us with this wealth of challenges and barriers, and the fact that they persist and that they push through is truly inspiring to us. So it's our opportunity today basically to have a party for our students and tell them how proud we are. It's what we work for every single day. It is truly the best day of the year. During the commencement ceremonies, Paul Hoffman was recognized as the CLC's 2018 outstanding educator. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.