Tallahassee Community College held its 42nd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, April 26 at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center. TCC President Bill Law presided over the ceremony.

TCC graduated 2,861 students during the 2007-08 academic year and more than 400 participated on Saturday – the most-ever to walk during the annual ceremony.

Dr. Will Holcombe, Chancellor of Florida’s Community College System, served as Commencement Speaker.

Dr. Holcombe has more than 30 years of experience in educational leadership and collegiate administration. After completing his undergraduate studies at Baldwin-Wallace College, he earned both his Master’s in Education and Ph.D. in College Administration from the University of Florida.

Dr. Holcombe served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, and then began his teaching career at Ford Junior High School in Brook Park, Ohio. He came to Florida as an English professor, first at Santa Fe Community College, then at Broward Community College, where he eventually became president in 1987. Dr. Holcombe has also served as Vice President of Brevard Community College, provost and academic dean for Broward’s Central Campus and assistant to the President for Broward Community College.

Since Florida’s Community Colleges are the primary access point to higher education for more than 800,000 students statewide, one of Dr. Holcombe’s highest priorities is facilitating and maintaining postsecondary opportunities for Florida’s students. As he has throughout his career, Dr. Holcombe continues to be a strong advocate for student success, seamless articulation and economic development. As Chancellor, Dr. Holcombe works to build consensus with other stakeholders in higher education, including K-12, workforce development entities and public and private four-year institutions.

Dr. Holcombe’s leadership roles include: FACTS Board Chairman, member of the Florida Department of Education’s Articulation Coordinating Committee, lifetime member of Florida Association of Community Colleges’ Foundation Board, Board Member for the Florida Distance Learning Institute, Chairman for Community College of the Air Force’s Board of Visitors and President of the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Workforce Development Board, chairman for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Committee on Criteria and Reports and Chairman of Accreditation Visiting Committees for 13 colleges in the Southeast.

A highly sought after speaker and presenter, Dr. Holcombe has represented Florida’s Community Colleges at many state and national conventions. He has also provided consulting services to colleges throughout the country.

In addition to Saturday’s Commencement, students from the College’s Division of Health Care Professions held their traditional ceremonies.

Graduates of TCC’s Dental Hygiene program were recognized during a ceremony on Friday, April 25. Those graduating from the College’s Nursing program held a pinning ceremony on Saturday, April 26.