On Saturday, May 12, 2007, the Halifax Community College family and the Roanoke Valley community will come together to celebrate with our students in commencement exercises. I want to extend an invitation to each of you to attend our graduation, which starts at 10:00 a.m. in The Centre.

Our featured speaker will be Dr. Delores A. Parker, Vice President for Academic and Student Services for the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), the nation's third largest community college system. She joined the System Office in 1999, and has worked with members of the State Board of Community Colleges and senior leadership at all 58 institutions in the Community College System to create programs of study that match the economic needs of the state with the educational goals of students.

Dr. Parker has focused on the delivery of distance education through the integration of technology across the community college curriculum, while strengthening the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between NCCCS and The University of North Carolina system. She has also worked on expanding the role of community colleges in teacher preparation, as well as attracted millions of dollars in new money for professional development, scholarships, global education and other vital efforts from federal grants and foundations.

Dr. Parker has received many awards and has published several articles. She holds degrees from Clark College, now Clark Atlanta University, North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina State University. We look forward to hosting her on campus and hearing her message during the ceremony.

In preparation for commencement, more than 400 graduation applications in certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs have been received to date. This number is strictly a count of applicants, and keep in mind, that some students will receive more than one credential in the same or similar major. We will not know who will actually graduate until after final grades are checked, but we expect almost 200 students to march in the ceremony.

Of those who have applied to graduate with a certificate, the High School Equivalency Diploma and Basic Law Enforcement Training programs have the highest number, 28 and 27, respectively. These programs are followed by Advertising & Graphic Design, Greenhouse & Grounds Maintenance, Interior Design (Computer-Aided), Welding, Automotive Systems Technology (Advanced), Interior Design, and Phlebotomy.

Our incarcerated program completers total nearly 200 in various certificate programs. These include Plumbing, Automotive Systems Technology, Electrical/Electronics Technology, Foodservice Technology, Facility Maintenance Worker, Masonry, and Small Engine & Equipment Repair. I believe that it is important to provide those in our local correctional facilities skill training programs from HCC in the aforementioned areas to prepare them to be productive citizens in the valley when they are released.

The largest number of diplomas will be awarded in Practical Nursing, with 19. Other diplomas will be awarded in Automotive Mechanics, Cosmetology, Interior Design, Office Systems Technology, Medical Office Administration, Welding, Advertising & Graphic Design, Business Administration, and Industrial Systems Technology.

Allied Health programs have the most associate degree applicants for graduation. These include Nursing with 23 students and Dental Hygiene with 16. Other associate degree programs represented are Early Childhood Associate, Human Services Technology, Human Services Technology (Social Services), Medical Office Administration, Office Systems Technology, Accounting, Business Administration, Industrial Systems Technology, Interior Design, Medical Laboratory Technology, Early Childhood Associate (Teacher Associate), Information Systems (Network Administration & Support), Paralegal Technology, Criminal Justice Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Information Technology, and Pulp & Paper Technology.

College Transfer associate degrees will be awarded in Associate in Arts and Associate in General Education.

From the President's Perspective, I want you to consider this column your personal invitation to come out and celebrate with our graduates, May 12, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in The Centre. We will have a reception immediately following the ceremony. Also, feel free to read more about our programs online at www.halifaxcc.edu or call us at (252) 536-HCC1 (4221). You can send me an email message at president@halifaxcc.edu with your thoughts or ideas about HCC.