Hundreds of students will turn their tassels at Wake Tech's annual graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 17, at the Raleigh Convention Center.

It will be Wake Tech's first commencement exercises at the facility. More than 1,100 graduates will receive degrees and diplomas; about 400 are expected to attend and participate in the ceremony. Graduates range in age from 18 to 67. N.C. Community Colleges President Scott Ralls will be the commencement speaker and is expected to focus on the community colleges' message of "Creating Success: Hope, Opportunity and Jobs."

According to studies, most of Sunday's graduates will remain in the Triangle area, becoming a part of the local workforce and contributing to the region's economy.

Where: Raleigh Convention Center

When: Sunday, May 17, 2009
3:00 p.m.
Graduates begin arriving at 2 p.m.

Who: Dr. Stephen C. Scott, President, Wake Tech Community
College Wake Tech Trustees, Senior Administrators, Faculty
Wake Tech graduates Guest Speaker: Dr. Scott Ralls, President, N.C. Community Colleges

Milestones:
● First graduates from Wake Tech's Northern Wake Campus.
● First graduates from Wake Tech's Honors Program.
● First graduates of Wake Tech's Construction Management
program.
● Largest number of Applied Technologies (trades) graduates in Wake Tech's history (120 graduates; up 30% from 2008).