As Michelle Higgins walked across the stage to receive her Associate of Science degree, she commented that this was the same stage she had walked across 14 years ago when she graduated from High School.

"I've been accepted in the nursing program at Westminster College," said Higgins, who is currently raising three children and working two jobs. As a student speaker at the graduation, Higgins echoed the marketing slogan for the Tooele campus: "Stay close, go far."

Higgins was one of 87 students that received degrees from Utah State University at the Tooele Regional Campus graduation ceremony held in the Grantsville High School auditorium on Saturday. Associate degrees were awarded to 60 students, including 15 high school students enrolled in the concurrent education program. There were 27 bachelor's degrees awarded.

Graduates' stories often made for inspiring tales.

Clara Walters was turned down for a promotion at work because she did not have a degree, although she had plenty of experience in her field. A co-worker encouraged her to go back to school, but being 57 years old Walters said she was afraid of going back. Walters finally enrolled at USU Tooele Campus in 2004 and started classes. This year she graduated with an associate of science degree with an emphasis in business. She said she will continue to work towards a bachelor's in business administration from USU Tooele.

"I was surprised," said Walters. "Had I known what it would be like, I might have gone back to school earlier."

This was the largest graduating class ever for USU Tooele, according to Kathleen Robinson, the campus' executive director.

The graduation ceremony for the campus has traditionally been held at Tooele High School, as the USU facility does not have a large auditorium. The Tooele High auditorium was in use this year so the ceremony was held at Grantsville High for the first time.

Alan Allred, president and chief executive officer of Questar Corporation was the speaker for the graduation ceremony. Allred, a 1974 graduate of USU with a bachelor's degree in finance and economics, serves on the National Advisory Board of USU's Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.

Allred offered four pieces of advice to graduates as they begin the next step of their journey: set goals and work to achieve them, get priorities right and pay attention to the details, understand the how's and why's not just the what's, your success depends on your ability to add value at your work.

tgillie@tooeletranscript.com