Governor Gretchen Whitmer is celebrating the graduation of more than a thousand community college students from 31 campuses across Michigan this week.

The graduations were part of the state’s Michigan Reconnect program, providing free community college for students who attend a school in their district.

The governor says it’s important to mark this accomplishment.

“So today’s really about celebrating your achievement, Whitmer told the grads. “Each of you worked hard to get here. You faced your own obstacles and pushed through to chase your dreams. You may think your story is ordinary, but the truth is, every seemingly ordinary story took a lot of serious guts.”

Since the program started in 2021, more than 57,000 Michigan students have earned an associate degree or skills certificate.