 It was a day of celebration Saturday as students at the University of Pikeville turned their tassels and walked across the stage to accept their diplomas. Students, faculty and staff along with family and friends joined together at the East Kentucky Exposition Center to watch the class of 2016 enter the real world. These are exciting days. It's a great time to get together with students and with parents to celebrate a wonderful accomplishment. The Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine began Saturday morning. The college not only celebrated its graduates but also recognized the 1,000th Osteopathic student receiving their diploma. It is an amazing point of pride for us to have graduated 1,000 doctors that now serve Eastern Kentucky and all of Central Appalachia. It's just a wonderful thing for our community all across this region. Later in the day, students from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Coleman College of Business, the Elliott School of Nursing and the Patton College of Education received their diplomas. It's an honor to be part of the University of Pikeville alumni. I've enjoyed my experience here. I was in every club and organization possible and I loved every moment meeting new friends, finding new ways to glorify God in different areas. Dr. John W. Becker and W. James Host both spoke during Saturday's graduation and received an honorary doctorate from the University.