And they're doctors. The first class of medical students graduated from University of Central Florida College of Medicine Friday morning, during a ceremony at the main university campus.

The charter class of 36 graduates also was the first class of medical students in the nation to receive full-ride, four-year scholarships courtesy of community donors.

The scholarships, each worth $160,000, helped the school attract more than 4,300 applications for 41 spaces, allowing the school to be very selective despite its being unknown and unproven.

"You took a big chance," said UCF President John Hitt during the commencement address. "You agreed to come to an unaccredited medical school. Your gamble paid off. Today, you are graduating debt free from a fully accredited medical school and are going to some of the best residencies in the nation.

"In decades to come, UCF College of Medicine a school you chartered will grow in distinction," Hitt said.

To pay their gift forward, the graduating class of 2013 has established a $300,000 endowment to help fund scholarships for future students.

The gift involves pledges from the students for the next 10 years that will provide a $50,000 scholarship over four years to a deserving student.

The graduating class set a high bar for upcoming medical student by exceeding national averages on the medical licensing exam, and also by landing residencies at some of the nation's top medical institutions.

Collectively, the group earned an average score of 245 on their medical licensing exam, nine points higher than the national average. All of them passed the national clinical skills exam, which also bests the national average.

From here, the newly anointed will pursue medical residencies at such notable centers as Duke University Medical Center, Baylor University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic and Tufts Medical Center. About a third of the graduates will begin residencies in state at Orlando Health, University of Florida and University of South Florida.

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UCF Medical School graduates its first class