It was graduation day on Topsail Island Tuesday as 16 rehabilitated sea turtles were returned to the sea.

Its an annual event on Topsail Island -- home of the Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. This year nine Loggerheads, three Kemp Ridleys and four Green Turtles emerged out of the animal hospital -- and made their way to the beach. Three-hundred screaming fans were on hand.

Many of the turtles are tagged, and some are even equipped with cameras to see where their journey takes them.

Since the hospital was founded in 1996, it has fully recovered 175 turtles and released them back into the ocean.