More than 100 students graduated from Pikeville College Saturday ready to hit the ground running. But with the current state of the economy, not all employers are ready to hire.

It was all smiles as graduates prepared to enter the work force.

"It feels so good. I just worked so hard, I just can't believe it's here," said Amber Johnson.

"It's been a long time coming. My classmates and I are really excited and we're glad to be here," said Darah Mullins.

But for some graduates, the difficult part is just beginning. A college degree under their belt, and still looking for their first job in the field.

"Right now, a lot of jobs are being cut, so it's a little harder around this area," Johnson said.

But those with a job in place, are very happy leave the college days behind.

"I will be working at entertainment magazine in New York," said Larry Shaw.

Though Shaw says finding a job was not easy.

"It was a little bit hard to find a job around here. One radio station was actually looking to create a job for me," Shaw said.

"It's a little hard around here, because I'm not wanting to move away from home, so I just have to apply and see what becomes available," said Erica Johnson.

"I have just always wanted to be a nurse, and my children are grown, so I thought it was time to go back to school," said Tammy Childers.

And though the job market may not always be ready to employ, these graduates are ready to work.

72 students also graduated from the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, many of them hoping to practice right here in Appalachia.

Dean Boyd Buser says the college was created to provide primary care physicians for rural and underserved areas of Eastern Kentucky. Each graduate is required at least three years of post doctoral training before they go into practice, but many say they plan to come back to the mountains.

"We're keeping the promise we made when we opened this school, and that is to help ease the physician shortage in Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia," Buser said.

Since the first graduating class in 2001, the dean says the school has graduated more than 400 osteopathic physicians. About one hundred and twenty of those are practicing in or around Pike County.