The Settler

Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: News

Media Credit: TNSENATE.COM Senator Diane Black will be speaking at graduation on May 3.

On May 3, Volunteer State Community College's commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in the Richard Moore Gymnasium.

This year's guest speaker will be Tennessee's State Senator, Diane Black, said Director of Media Services Terry Heinen.
According to www.dianeblack.com, Black was elected in 2004 to represent the 18th Senatorial District which includes most of Sumner County and all of Robertson County.
Heinen said that the biggest change to the ceremony was the implementation of a partial recessional.

"A partial recessional will conclude the ceremony with those on stage and the faculty existing in the reverse order of their processional," said Heinen. "This year, students will not have a recessional but rather allowed to stay in the gymnasium to meet with family and friends."

Another change is the prohibition of taking photographs or video of graduates near the stage, he said.

"In the past, family members were allowed to take pictures near the stage area," Heinen said. "The problem was that the area then became congested and many people could not see their relatives graduating."

Heinen also said that prohibiting the use of cameras and video near the stage will keep the dignity of the event.

The number of invitations will continue to be 5 free tickets per graduate, Heinen said.
"We are encouraging students that don't need those 5 tickets to turn them in at the bookstore," he said. "As a petition from fire marshals, we are trying not to overcrowd the gym."

Prior to commencement day, selected graduates will have the opportunity to be recognized by the Vol State community at the graduates' award night.

"Traditionally, we usually had a graduates' breakfast on the morning of graduation rehearsal," said Student Services Administrative Assistant Susan Hosier. "However, this year we are attempting something new with the graduates' awards night."

Hosier said the night will provide an opportunity for faculty, staff and administrators to acknowledge and honor students for their contribution to the college.

The award night will take place on April 25 in the Randy and Lois Wood Campus Center's cafeteria.

The reception will be from 5-5:45 p.m. and the awards program will be 5:45-7:15 p.m.
Graduation rehearsal will take place on May 2 at 10 a.m. in the Richard Moore Gymnasium.

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