By Jenae Peterson

AUSTIN — After high school, Jason Holland thought he was done with his education. But that turned out to be wrong when he and his wife rethought his career path and means for providing for his family.

“I’m excited about my future,” said Holland, one of the student speakers at Riverland Community College’s commencement. “It’s finally here.”

Friday evening showcased 257 of the 617 graduates in Austin High School’s Knowlton Auditorium. The two-year college’s campuses in Austin, Albert Lea and Owatonna attract a diverse student body from several counties and backgrounds.

“One thing that I’ve learned to appreciate about Riverland is their diverse student body,” Holland said.

Holland graduated with a degree in wind turbine technology. As a “non traditional” student, he had to make a few sacrifices to reach his goals.

“I never imagined myself at 32 and married having to move back in with my parents,” he said.

Having to move back to shorten his commute to the college seemed like a step back at the time, but now he sees it as a step toward his future.

But Holland isn’t the only non traditional student that graduated from Riverland.

Christa Krupke also received her diploma on Friday evening.

“It means a lot to me because I took 15 years off from high school,” she said. “After such a long break I was doubting it would actually happen, but it did and now I’m here.”

At 34, Krupke graduated with an associate degree in science and radiography. She liked Riverland because it was one of the few schools that had the radiography program she was looking for.

Krupke hopes to find a job in Minnesota working with X-rays, CAT scans and MRIs. But graduating from college wasn’t only for her benefit. She also wanted to set a good example for her teenage daughter.

Along with graduates like Krupke and Holland, many “traditional” students also graduated, like 21-year-old Ethan Kristy. He graduated with an associate degree in industrial maintenance machine repair.

“I can finally get a start on my life, get my foot in the door,” Kristy said.

He hopes to find a job working near Austin or Albert Lea.

He isn’t the only one looking to stay near Austin with his new degree. Chol Opiew, 35, received his diploma for an associate degree in education.

“Right now it’s kind of exciting,” he said.

After high school, Opiew worked at various jobs, but it was hard raising a family of six children and working full time.

He didn’t have a lot of time for college. He decided to attend Riverland because it’s close to home, but he also feels it’s a good school for a variety of reasons.

But Friday was only Opiew’s first step toward reaching his goals; he plans to now earn a bachelor’s degree in science.

After he finishes school, Opiew plans to return to Austin to teach elementary school.

Opiew said Riverland helped him achieve his goals.

“I achieved what I wanted,” Opiew said. “I hope more people can go to Riverland.”