More than 1,300 students are candidates for graduation at Middle Georgia State College's second annual commencement, scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Macon Coliseum. Dr. Christopher Blake, Middle Georgia State president, will preside.

Two ceremonies will be held this year: 10 a.m. for graduates in the Schools of Aviation, Business, IT and Social Sciences; and 3 p.m. for graduates in the Schools of Education, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Science & Math and Georgia Academy of Aviation, Mathematics, Engineering and Science (G.A.M.E.S.).

The commencement speaker at both ceremonies will be Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. She is the first African American and the first woman to serve in this capacity.  Her career spans 40 years and includes the roles of faculty member, chief student services officer, campus provost, college president and Virginia’s secretary of education. Wheelan received her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in Texas with a double major in psychology and sociology; her master’s from Louisiana State University (1974) in developmental educational psychology; and her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin (1984) in educational administration with a special concentration in community college leadership.

Also speaking will be Sylvia Elizabeth Clements Moore of Warner Robins, President's Scholar for the Class of 2014. The President’s Scholar award is the highest given to a graduating senior and is based on academics and extracurricular activity. Moore is graduating with a bachelor's degree in business and information technology. She is sales manager of Exit Success Realty as well as broker over commercial and residential property management. 

Of the 1,321 candidates for graduation, 699 students are set to receive bachelor's degrees. Another  578 will receive associate's degrees; the rest will receive certificates, mostly through the School of Aviation.

Here is the number of graduation candidates by school as of April 28:

School of Aviation: 170

School of Business: 212

School of Education: 68

G.A.M.E.S: 40

School of Health Sciences: 322

School of Information Technology: 83

School of Liberal Arts: 134

School of Science and Mathematics: 68

School of Social Science: 224