U.S. Dignitaries and Civic Leaders are Keynote Speakers at Miami Dade College Commencement Ceremonies April 29 and 30
The Honorable Wifredo “Willy” Ferrer, Esq., the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony for both the Homestead and InterAmerican campuses on Saturday, April 30, 2011.
Miami, April 18, 2011 - Excitement is building for nearly 14,000 Miami Dade College (MDC) graduates gearing up for their 2011 commencement ceremonies, which will be held Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30.
Several renowned speakers will address graduates at several ceremonies but none more prominent than President Barack Obama, who will address West and North Campus graduates at 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the James L. Knight International Center in downtown Miami.
Students will graduate in five combined ceremonies across Miami-Dade County.
On the second day of ceremonies (Saturday, April 30), Kathleen Shanahan, a member of the State Board of Education, will deliver the commencement address at the Medical Center Campus ceremony; followed by the Honorable Wifredo “Willy” Ferrer, Esq., the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and one of the most important law enforcement officials in the country, who will speak at the ceremony for both the Homestead and InterAmerican campuses.
Speaking at the Wolfson and Hialeah ceremony will be Michelle Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy.
Cesar Conde, president of Univision Networks, will deliver the final commencement speech at the Kendall Campus ceremony.
MDC graduations have always been momentous and memorable. In 2007, President George W. Bush spoke to MDC graduates.
Former President Bill Clinton was a speaker last year. Other past speakers have included U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, among many other distinguished speakers.
Below is the schedule of the 2011 ceremonies:
Friday, April 29, 2011
7p.m. North Campus and West
Speaker: U.S. President Barack Obama
James L. Knight International Center
400 S.E. Second Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
Saturday, April 30, 2011
8 a.m. Medical Center Campus
Speaker: Kathleen Shanahan, State Board of Education member
James L. Knight Center
400 S.E. Second Ave.
Miami, FL 33131
10 a.m. Homestead and InterAmerican Campuses
Speaker: Wifredo “Willy” Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
Kendall Campus Gymnasium
11011 S.W. 104 St.
Building 7000
Miami, FL 33176
12:30 p.m. Wolfson and Hialeah Campuses
Speaker: Michelle Cooper, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy
James L. Knight International Center
400 S.E. Second Ave.
Miami, FL 33131
3 p.m. Kendall Campus
Speaker:Cesar Conde, president of Univision Networks
Kendall Campus Gymnasium
11011 S.W. 104 St.
Building 7000
Miami, FL 33176
Media-only contacts:
Juan Mendieta, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu, MDC communications director
Tere Estorino, 305-237-3949, testorin@mdc.edu, MDC media relations director
Tarnell Carroll, 305-237-3359, tcarroll@mdc.edu, media specialist
Sue Arrowsmith, 305-237-3710, sue.arrowsmith@mdc.edu, media specialist