Willie J. Gallaher, Friday graduation speaker, and Dr. Russ Deaton, Saturday graduation speaker
April 26, 2016
Roane State Community College will hold commencement ceremonies on May 6-7.
Both events, to be held in the gym on the Roane County campus in Harriman, will be equal in presentation.
The Friday ceremony will also include the graduation of Roane State’s first Middle College students. Middle College allows high school students to take college classes in their junior and senior years of high school and then graduate with their diploma and their associate degree.
Twenty high school seniors from Roane County schools will graduate from Roane State on Friday, May 6. The seniors began taking Roane State courses in fall 2014 as part of the college’s first Middle College class.
Community leader and Roane State alumnus Willie J. Gallaher will be the speaker for the Friday ceremony. Gallaher is network administrator for the Harriman Utility Board and pastor of St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church of Harriman. He played basketball at Roane State and continues to be involved in the sport, serving as an assistant boys basketball coach at Harriman High School for the past 15 years.
Dr. Russ Deaton, interim executive director at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, will speak at the Saturday event. Formerly, Dr. Deaton was THEC’s associate executive director for fiscal policy and administration where, in addition to his responsibilities as CFO, he directed finance policy development and research including the funding formula, tuition policy and financial aid.
Roane State will offer DVDs of graduation. Cost is $20, plus $5 for shipping and handling. Visitors may place their order at the commencement events. Orders will be taken at rehearsals and in the gym lobby before, during and after the ceremonies. The order form is also available online on the graduation Web page. Call (865) 882-4556 for questions about ordering DVDs.
Photographs will be available for purchase through GradImages. Graduates will have a photo taken onstage as they shake hands with Roane State President Dr. Chris Whaley and as they return to their seats. Soon after the ceremony, graduates can view and order photos at www.gradimages.com.
Visitors do need to be aware that bridge repair on Interstate 40 between Exit 350 and Exit 352 may cause traffic delays.
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.
