Graduation is an event that inspires many mixed emotions in students. Some feel trepidation about the upcoming changes, while others experience excitement about moving onto new and different things.

Whatever their feelings, graduating students are busy preparing themselves for a future beyond Palo Alto College.

Many students will continue their college education at four-year universities, pursuing bachelor’s degrees in their field of interest. A majority of graduates will stay local and attend universities here in San Antonio, but some have chosen to broaden their horizons outside of the local area.

Sophomore Gabriel Bautista, a Psychology major, will be continuing his studies at the University of Northern Iowa this fall.

“I’m getting an opportunity to view a different part of the United States rather than just finishing my degree here in Texas,” Bautista said.

A long-standing partnership between Palo Alto and UNI allows qualified students to receive a scholarship from UNI that covers full tuition and housing at the university. As a result, UNI is a very popular choice for Palo Alto students wishing to transfer to a four-year institution.

Unlike Bautista, sophomore Melody Heathcock has decided to remain local to finish her bachelor’s degree. After graduating this spring with an Associate of Arts in Communications, she hopes to attend Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio this fall.

“I really don’t have the means to be traveling all the way to San Marcos every other day or every day,” Heathcock said.

“Hopefully, I can go to school and have a job at the same time.”

Heathcock will continue her education in Communications with an emphasis in Radio, Television and Film. Although she would like to dabble in a little bit of everything in the field, she is really interested in getting involved with making documentaries.

While some students choose to continue with their education, still others plan to enter the work force upon graduation. Students graduating with an Associate of Applied Science degree have been prepared to enter their careers directly after Palo Alto.

Sophomore Hannah Circé will head into the work force after graduation with an Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. She currently works for the Department of Defense at the veterinary clinic on Fort Sam Houston, and will continue her work there after graduation. Although she is already employed as a veterinary technician, graduating from the program at Palo Alto will help her toward her future goals.

“When I just had on-the-job training beforehand, I just knew how to do things. Palo Alto teaches you the who, what, when, and where behind what we do,” Circé said. “When we answer client questions or the doctor needs something, we know why we’re doing this and why it betters the patients, which makes us better at our jobs.”

The current state of the economy has changed the way a few students think about their futures. The unsteady job market is a concern to many graduates, whether they are moving on with their education or moving directly out into the work force.

“[The economy] has actually encouraged me to finish my education rather than postponing it for the future,” Bautista said.

This academic year, 725 Palo Alto students are expected to receive their diplomas. Of these, 240 students have already finished their requirements and received their diplomas at the end of either the Summer or Fall 2008 semesters. This spring, 476 students are expected to graduate with an additional nine students expected to complete their requirements at the end of the Summer semesters. Summer, Fall and Spring semester graduates were invited to participate in the ceremony.

Graduation took place on Tuesday, May 5, in the Municipal Auditorium. The keynote speaker was Henry Cisneros, former mayor of San Antonio and the current executive chairman of CityView.