HCTC graduation is May 9 at The Forum; Edison Banks is speaker

Hazard Community and Technical College will hold graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 9 at The Forum, in the Hal Rogers Center, at 10 a.m. with guest speaker Edison Banks, Letcher County Commonwealth s Attorney and HCTC alumnus and student speaker Rachel Combs.

A total of 569 students are receiving a total of 1,287 credentials. Associate in arts, associate in science, associate in applied science, and associate in fine arts degrees will be awarded along with diplomas and certificates. The ceremony includes all graduates for the 2014-15 academic year those who graduated in August and December and those who will graduate May 9.

HCTC President Dr. Steve Greiner said, The joy that families share on this day is tremendous and the faculty, staff, and administration is also joyous in seeing the milestone achieved by these students. We wish each graduate the very best.

A LKLP van will transport attendees from the Hazard High School parking lot to the entrance of The Forum.

Edison Banks has served as the Commonwealth s Attorney 47th Judicial Circuit of Kentucky since January 2001. From January 1994 to December 2000, he served as First Assistant Letcher County Attorney, Chief Deputy County Law Enforcement Officer, and Chief Deputy County Prosecutor. For six years prior to that, he was the First Assistant Commonwealth Attorney 47th Judicial Circuit of Kentucky Other posts include Chief Deputy State Law Enforcement Officer and Chief Deputy State Prosecutor. He has served as attorney for the Letcher County Board of Education, City Attorney for Fleming Neon and Whitesburg, and attorney for the Kentucky Utility Commission, Kentucky Housing Authority, H.O.M.E.S., Inc., and in private practice.

Banks earned his juris doctorate from the University of Kentucky. Last year, Banks was named Commonwealth s Attorney of the Year.