BUTLER TWP - Walking across the stage and receiving her diploma Thursday night was a new experience for Butler County Community College graduate Karan Bland.

The 40-year-old Butler resident never graduated from high school, so it was the first time she had the pleasure of reaping the rewards of her academic achievements.

Bland was among the 474 BC3 students who received diplomas Thursday, with roughly 250 of those participating in the actual graduation ceremony.

"I was a high school drop out," Bland said. "I dropped out when I was 16 and got my GED."

Nearly 23 years later, Bland decided she wanted to go back to school and earn a degree - what she called one of the scariest decisions of her life.

"I was scared to death to go back to school because I had no idea how I'd do after being away so long," she said.

Bland started out with just two classes during a spring semester. By the fall, she felt confident enough to take on a full course load and worked toward earning credits for an elementary education degree.

It's something Bland said she never could have done without the support of her family, particularly her husband, Bob, and their four children.

"Not even chemistry could stop her," Bob Bland joked as his wife waited to line up for the grand march.

Chemistry was the only subject Karan Bland had trouble with, but Bob Bland said she worked hard at it and earned a B.

"Even that wasn't going to stand in the way of her dream," he said.

Bob Bland, along with their four children, Karan Bland's parents and grandparents, were all at Thursday night's ceremony.

"We're all so proud of her," Bob Bland said. "She's always wanted to do this."

Bland said that, in addition to her family, she also received quite a bit of support from BC3 professor John Griffiths - something she considers amazing since she was never officially Griffiths' student.

Bland said she met Griffiths while on campus one day and he sparked a conversation with her in which she told him her situation and her dream of becoming a college graduate.

"He told me I needed to live my dream ... and that everything would fall into place," she said. "And he was right, it did."

Those dreams included several academic achievements Bland made while at BC3.She received the USAA National Collegiate Education Award, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, made the Who's Who list, the BC3 President's List and the BC3 and National Dean's lists.She also was appointed to the All Pennsylvania Academic Team, which earned her free tuition at the state university of her choice following graduation at BC3.Bland has chosen to go on to Slippery Rock University, where she will earn a dual certification in elementary and special education. She will start there this fall.Of all the awards she received, there is one Bland said she was glad was not bestowed on her."I was nominated to give the student commencement speech but didn't get it, and I'm actually kind of glad about that," she said. "I've never graduated before, so this way, I'll be able to just sit back and enjoy it."This year's student speaker was Maggie McClaine, the former chair of the executive council for students and a member of Phi Theta Kappa.The alumni speaker was Nicholas Toubakaris, president of O.H. Nicholas Transfer and Storage in Butler and a recipient of a 2005 BC3 Distinguished Graduate Award.The keynote speaker was Pennsylvania First Lady Marjorie Rendell. In addition to being first lady of the Commonwealth, Rendell also is a judge in the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.A last-minute rearranging of the ceremony order had to be made at 6 p.m. when Rendell informed college officials she was still in Philadelphia. She flew by private jet into Butler County Airport and gave her speech at 7:30 p.m., near the end of the ceremony.