Time really seems to zip by, doesn’t it, because here we are again at Northern Michigan University’s graduation weekend.

It seems like just the other day it was winter commencement, but in fact at 10:30 a.m. Saturday another set of graduates will grab their diplomas and set out to conquer the world.

Commencement is what it is called for a good reason because it’s not just the end of a particular set of classes, it’s the beginning of something new for the women and men who are becoming NMU alumni. For some, it will be returning to school for another degree. For others, it will be starting a dream job. For a lucky few, at least, it will be a chance to get out to explore the world.

Whether they came from Marquette County or some exotic land halfway around the world, these new Northern grads were important to our community. Some because they dove in and became part of the organizations that work to better our area, others because they brought with them other cultures for us all to learn about from them.

The Superior Dome will be packed with these bright people who have earned all sorts of degrees along with their proud parents, other family and friends.

The assembled crowd will hear a speech by Tristan Ruiz, an NMU biochemistry student who is heading for medical school, and plans to speak on his time in college and what he thinks the future holds. They’ll also hear from U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who hails from Ann Arbor.

It’s going to be an exciting day for many, and we know there may be a few tears of pride shed, by parents watching their children realize a dream and by new alumni saying farewell to friends made while attending college.

We hope all these graduates consider Marquette a second home and will return to visit often.

Best wishes to the Class of 2019. Congratulations on what you have achieved and good luck with whatever you’re commencing to do next.