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As University of Houston-Victoria students of all ages basked under the lights on Saturday in their ceremonial graduation garb, they couldnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t help but turn in their seats to try and find their loved ones out in the overwhelming crowd at the Fine Arts Center.

Without fail, each studentòòò½ÊÓƵ™s face lit up as they found their parents, friends, spouses or children in the sea of faces. Likewise, family members in the crowd whooped and hollered, waving their arms in the air and capturing the moment on their cellphones.

Graduating from college is a milestone achievement, but for many of the students it was a life-changing moment. The best part is, most of the students who received their degrees Saturday didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t walk the stage just for themselves òòò½ÊÓƵ” they di it for others.

When the graduating class from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences were asked to stand up if they were first-generation students, rows and rows of students stood up.

First-generation students are people whose families have never earned a four-year college degree.

Joseph Valdez,35, is a first-generation college graduate, but said heòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll be the last one in his family to bear the title.

When he graduated from high school, Valdez went straight to college but, at 19, realized he was making more money at his job, so he quit school. It wasnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t until years later that he was working one day and watching others graduate from college when he wondered, òòò½ÊÓƵœWhat are they doing differently than me?òòò½ÊÓƵ�

òòò½ÊÓƵœIt was intimidating at first but I wanted to show my kids they can do it. I wanted to be a leader for them,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Valdez said.

Valdez returned to school and said he was surrounded by a friendly staff that was supportive and wanted him to graduate.

With Valdez receiving his bachelor of science degree in computer science Saturday and with wife already having a bacheloròòò½ÊÓƵ™s degree, Valdez knows his son will value education.

òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™m breaking the cycle. I did this for the little ones, to inspire them,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Valdez said.

Like Valdez, first-generation student Crystal Eichhorn, 49, earned her degree to show her kids that they too can do it. But she means to inspire more than just her children at home òòò½ÊÓƵ” she also means to inspire her students.

Eichhorn teaches history for 6th through 12th grade at Nordheim ISD and juggled her teaching responsibilities along with a full-course load while being a wife and a mother.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI wanted to show my family that no matter what we go through, thereòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a light at the end of the tunnel,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Eichhorn said.

Eichhorn went back to school when she realized she wasnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t where she wanted to be in life òòò½ÊÓƵ” she wanted to move up. After graduating Saturday with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, it will only benefit Eichhorn as she plans to go on to earn her masters and then her doctorate degree.

òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve had some amazing people behind me. My husband was my rock and heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s the one that kept pushing me forward,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Eichhorn said.

Family is a huge motivator for students, from receiving their support to working to make their lives better. Lacey Guerrero, 27, went back to school because of her grandfather. He was the main reason she went to school and, unfortunately, he died a month before she graduated. But Guerrero said she walked the stage for him.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI started college right after I graduated high school in 2017, but I took a break to focus on my mental health,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Guerrero said.

Having her own mental health struggles, Guerrero plans on becoming a qualified mental health professional and sheòòò½ÊÓƵ™s one step closer to that goal after receiving her psychology degree Saturday. Her goal is to try to help people in need and she already has been working at the Gulf Bend Wellness Center in town.

òòò½ÊÓƵœGive back to the community, youòòò½ÊÓƵ™re standing on the shoulders of others who have supported you. I know you will make us proud because you already have,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Tammy Murphy, University of Houston System Regent, said.

President of the University of the Houston-Victoria Bob Glenn sent the graduating class out into the world, telling them to go out and do good work.

òòò½ÊÓƵœEngage the future and change your world. I hope you achieve the future you wanted,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Glenn said.

The three commencement ceremonies on Saturday were a monumental moment for many students. But it was also a significant moment for the university itself.

Since the early 2000s, the University of Houston-Victoria has held their fall commencement ceremonies in Katy. This year, the ceremony remained in Victoria at the VISD Fine Arts Center. Moving the ceremonies from Katy to Victoria highlights the universityòòò½ÊÓƵ™s commitment to fostering a deeper connection between graduates and their alma materòòò½ÊÓƵ™s roots in Victoria.

The advice these three graduating students wanted to share to incoming students or those considering college was to just do it and donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t let anyone tell you that you canòòò½ÊÓƵ™t.

òòò½ÊÓƵœIf I can do it, anyone can do it,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Guerrero said.