DeKALB – About an hour before she walked across the stage in front of thousands of people, Hailey Kruger thanked the Lord for getting her through.

“I just know I couldn’t have gotten here if it wasn’t for God,” said Kruger, clad in a black graduation robe. “I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Him.”

Kruger was one of the 1,400 Northern Illinois University students who took part in commencement ceremonies over the weekend. Saturday was the graduate school ceremony, and undergraduates had their turn Sunday.