HERSHEY, Pa. — Today (March 16), 136 fourth-year medical students at Penn State College of Medicine learned their residency destinations at Match Day, an annual tradition. A similar scene played out with their peers at medical schools across the country.

The event for Penn State College of Medicine, which took place at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, included a countdown to the moment the students ripped their envelopes open, followed by cheers, hugs and celebration.

“This day kind of makes it real,” said Lindsay Bacik, who was matched with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for a residency in dermatology. “I have a spot in a residency position at the program of my dreams. For so long it’s been a dream I was chasing but now it’s something I’ve actually achieved.”

The process to match students to residency programs started long before Match Day. Months ago, students visited and evaluated the programs — and the programs evaluated them. The students learned today if they were matched with the residency programs of their choice.

About 30 percent of the College of Medicine graduates are accepting residency appointments in Pennsylvania, with 24 of those graduates staying at Hershey Medical Center. The rest of the students are headed for programs across the country. Forty percent of the graduates are entering primary care residencies. In addition to the 136 students who took part in Match Day, seven students will receive their training at military medical centers.

View a list of this year’s graduating medical class and their residency destinations here, as well as a list of match results by area of specialty.