DOVER — Proud families, carrying balloons and bouquets of flowers, whipped out their cameras.

Delaware Technical Community College students, dressed in green robes, flipped their tassels from the right side to the left and graduated Monday night.

Erin Esken, Jazmine Downing and Shalisa Alexander pose for a photo before commencement at Delaware Technical Community College in Dover on Monday night. (Delaware State News/Eleanor La Prade)

Mark Brainard, who was appointed college president in August 2014, gave the commencement address at the Terry Campus in Dover.

In his remarks, Dr. Brainard told the soon-to-be graduates that their learning didn’t end with Delaware Tech.

“I urge each and every one of here to leave here tonight committed to the idea that you will be a lifelong student and a lifelong learner, because the more we learn, the more we succeed,” he said.

Dr. Brainard — himself a graduate of Delaware Tech — urged students to be proud and tell their stories of success.

“You are literally the solution to the state’s economic problems and you have a great foundation for a great future,” he said.

Jacqueline Cameron, who won the outstanding graduate award for the paralegal department, was the student speaker Monday.

“I’m a returning student so there’s been some time between high school and college,” she said before commencement.

“It’s been a long time coming and I’m super excited for my achievement so far.”

She said she plans to transfer to Wilmington University through the connected degree program.

Ms. Cameron also works at Delaware Tech as a student success aid, organizing campus-wide events for student life.

She said she was drawn to the college because of the “foundation in the community” it offers. “And just so many unlimited resources that are available,” she said.

“Faculty and staff is amazing, very supportive and encouraging,” she said. “All my peers are wonderful.”

Delaware Technical Community College will hold its Owens Campus commencement tonight in Georgetown; commencement for the Stanton and Wilmington campuses is set for Wednesday in Newark.

All together, 1,673 students are expected to graduate during the college’s 47th annual commencement ceremonies.

More than 97 percent live in Delaware and will work for more than 600 Delaware businesses. The largest number of 2015 associate degrees will be awarded in nursing, criminal justice and human services.

Including this year’s graduates, the college will have awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates to more than 46,277 individuals in its 48-year history.