Capt. Verne B. Gifford Jr., commanding U.S. Coast Guard officer for the Sector Southeastern New England, had perhaps the best news that Monday’s seven graduates are likely to hear for a long time.

“You’ve got no debt and you all have jobs,” the captain said in the graduation ceremony on the front lawn of the Menemsha station.

The ceremony held all the right pieces of a proper graduation. There was music, marching, a Class of 2012 program and speeches. There was a recording of Pomp and Circumstance played on the speaker system at the very start. There were dignitaries. The audience was primarily the station crew assigned to the station, plus a gathering of youngsters, sons and daughters of the those serving, along with their wives.

Captain Gifford, who is based at Woods Hole, told graduates of the benefits of higher education — all were honored for having completed their associate’s degrees at Vincennes University. He said that in today’s competitive world, additional education will be helpful as they move forward in the Coast Guard and eventually beyond it.

Assisting in the commencement was Mai L. Miller, eastern regional director for the university, who came up from Florida to attend the ceremony.

The graduates are: Gary Kovack, Scott Maccaferri, Nickolas Meegan, Daniel Phillips and Christopher Seevers. Two Coast Guardsmen were not in attendance: Matthew Lawson and Gregory Sarkozi.

Prior to the ceremony, Chief Jason L. Olsen, officer in charge of the station, said the students had done all the work in their spare time and that he was especially pleased by their progress. The classes had begun a year and a half ago. The students attended the classes at the station using Internet-powered telecommunications to connect with their teachers and simulate the classroom experience. Courses included English composition, algebra, chemistry, public speaking and ethics. Students met as often as two days a week.

The gathering ended with a recessional, La Caccia, by Vivaldi, followed by a reception.