With cheers echoing and tassels turned, 30 Project for Alternative Learning graduates crossed the stage Friday, celebrating, resilience, growth and the promise of new beginnings beyond the edge of the map.

PAL's graduating class endured, triumphed and overcame challenges throughout their young lives and looked forward to brighter futures within the great unknown.

John Cech, retiring President of Carroll College, was the keynote speaker. He addressed the graduating class and explained how they were their own maps and their futures were the uncharted and hopeful waters.

"There be dragons," Cech said, a medieval theme continued through his speech.

"In medieval times, map makers would sketch dragons or sea monsters on the edges of their maps and marked places where the known world ended an

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