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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Diversity was on display as members of the University of Alaska Fairbanks 2018 graduating class received their diplomas.

Of the approximately 1,300 students at Saturday’s commencement ceremony, almost one-fifth were of Alaska Native or American Indian heritage. School officials say 223 Native graduates received degrees, certificates or occupational endorsements, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported .

A breakdown by ethnicity also shows 28 were Asian-American; 28 were African-American; 67 were Hispanic; 11 were Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; 661 were Caucasian; 35 were international students and 262 were of other or unknown ethnicity.

Women graduates also outnumbered men, 714 to 595.

The youngest person to earn a bachelor’s degree was 20, while the oldest was 75. The youngest graduate was a 16-year-old who earned an occupational endorsement in basic carpentry.

Student speaker Aaron Cottle, a Navy veteran who graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration, spoke during Saturday’s ceremony about the failures and triumphs that shaped his nontraditional educational path.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have work to do,” he said. “We cannot afford to lead small lives. We are standing on the threshold of greatness. We have opened the door. All that remains is to step through.”

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Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner, http://www.newsminer.com