LOWELL, Mass. — Graduates and their school passed into a new phase of life at Rivier College's 77th commencement exercises at the Tsongas Arena on Saturday.

Degrees were awarded to 670 students, ranging from the associate's level to the school's first doctorate, as Rivier marked the final graduation ceremony before its transformation into Rivier University on July 1.

The commencement speaker, John DeGioia, president of Georgetown University, the country's oldest Jesuit and Catholic university, noted that Rivier will become the nation's newest Catholic university and drew on Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, for some advice.

“Do not devalue what you have achieved,” DeGioia said. Quoting from Loyola's exhortation to students to use their education to improve mankind, he urged the graduates to “go forth and set the world on fire.”

Members of a class whose entire college career was spent during the worst economic crisis in decades said they realize a bit of kindling may be required before that fire blazes a career trail.

Lauren Hall of Pelham, president of Rivier's student government, presented the class gift, a contribution of $20.12 from each class member. “We'll all make further donations as soon as we all get jobs,” she said.

Uneasiness about the job market did not suddenly materialize for the Class of 2012 at graduation.

Monica Rivera of Hudson started as a secondary education major, then switched to history.

“I changed my mind when I heard how many teachers were getting cut,” she said.

Melissa Zecchino, a business major from Hudson, sees competition even at the entry-level.

“The way the country is right now, there is a whole class a year ahead of me that I'll be waiting behind,” she said.

For some, the degree received Saturday is not the end of formal education.

Manchester native Danielle Grenert, the mother of two college students, graduated with an associate's degree in nursing. Currently working at Catholic Medical Center, Grenert raised her family while studying part-time for eight years — and she isn't finished yet.

“I'm looking forward to getting my bachelor's and hopefully my master's,” she said.

Rivier conferred its first-ever doctoral degree, in education, on Audrey Rogers of Merrimack who specialized in learning and leadership. Class honors were won by undergraduate student Kala Boudreau of Vermont and graduate student Lisa deHaan of Milford, who finished with a perfect 4.0 average.

The school awarded 132 associate's degrees, 280 bachelor's degrees and 257 master's degrees or certificates.