University of Maine at Augusta president James Conneely speaks from stage at start of the 49th annual commencement exercises for University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Standing in the back of auditorium before he took the stage, University of Maine at Augusta president James Conneely watches graduates enter for the 49th annual commencement exercises for University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Roger Mackbach, left, and University of Maine at Augusta president James Conneely shake hands as Mackbach walks into the 49th annual commencement exercises for University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Student speaker Zachary Pulsifer, right, chats with his cousin Chelsea French before the 49th annual commencement exercises for University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Tiffany Labbe has the has the chemical structure of dopamine on her mortar board for 49th annual commencement exercises for University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center. Labbe, of Hartford, received a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree.

Veterinary technician program instructor Allison Simpson takes a photo of one of her students Sierra Roberts' decorated mortar board before the 49th annual commencement exercises for University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Information and Library Sciences instructor Jodi Williams takes a selfie with some of her students before the 49th annual commencement exercises for University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center. The program is taught entirely online and for some graduates the ceremony was their first time on campus.