Alabama Community College Chancellor Jimmy Baker will deliver the commencement address today at Calhoun Community College’s graduation ceremony.

The commencement is set to begin at 6 p.m. on the front lawn of the Math/Science/Administration Building on the Decatur campus. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the same location.

For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be streamed live at www.calhoun.edu. A link will be on the site’s home page.

More than 1,700 students have qualified for graduation this year. Of that number, approximately 400 students plan to participate in this year’s ceremony.

Returning this year will be bagpiper Ryan Morrison, who will lead the procession. Student Ryan Heath has been selected to deliver this year’s student message. A member of the class of 2018, Heath is an officer with Calhoun’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter and was recognized this year as one of Calhoun’s Top 10 students.

At 1 p.m. today, students graduating from Calhoun’s associate degree nursing program will participate in the annual candle-lighting ceremony. The ceremony will be at the First Baptist Church of Decatur.

On Tuesday, a reception was held for GED graduates on the campus of Athens State University. According to the GED office, 186 students have successfully passed the GED test. That number was expected to increase as students complete GED testing this week.

About the speaker

Baker, a Coffee County native, attended high school in New Brockton and later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Troy University. He earned a graduate degree in economics and education administration and an education specialist degree from Auburn University, where he was also certified in school administration.

Baker is married to Joy, a retired teacher, and they are the parents of two daughters and grandparents to four grandchildren.

“Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in the development of partnerships with businesses including medical evacuation, real estate development and governmental affairs,” according to a press release from Calhoun.