Presidential Cabinet Member and Other Prominent Figures Among 2009 Commencement Speakers
US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will speak at the Wolfson Campus graduation at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
Miami, April 22, 2009 - Miami Dade College (MDC) has always been known for having major national and international figures speak at its commencement ceremonies. The 2009 graduation May 2 is no exception.
On this day, as more than 9,000 students graduate in six ceremonies across Miami-Dade County, major speakers will deliver commencement addresses including U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, who will speak at the Wolfson Campus graduation; former Miami Herald publisher and current president of the Early Childhood Initiative Foundation David Lawrence, who will speak at the InterAmerican Campus graduation; former Miami Herald publisher and current president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Alberto Ibargüen, who will speak at the North and Hialeah Campuses graduation; and MDC District Board of Trustees chair Helen Aguirre Ferré, who will speak at the Kendall Campus graduation. In addition, Dr. Bernd A. Wollschlaeger, president of the Dade County Medical Association, will speak at the Medical Center Campus graduation and Dan Kimball, superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, will speak at the Homestead Campus graduation.
It is important to note that Secretary Solis, the 25 Secretary of Labor, is the first Hispanic woman to serve in the Cabinet.
In the last two years alone, MDC graduation speakers have included President George W. Bush, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former U.S. Secretary of Education, MargaretSpellings, among other prominent local and national leaders.
Below is the schedule of the 2009 ceremonies and speakers:
8:00 a.m. Homestead Campus - Dan B. Kimball, Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks
Kendall Campus Gymnasium
11011 SW 104 Street
Building 7000
Miami, FL
9:30 a.m. InterAmerican Campus - David Lawrence Jr., President, Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and University Scholar for Early Childhood
Development, University of Florida
Miami-Dade County Auditorium
2901 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL
11:00 a.m. North and Hialeah Campuses - Alberto Ibargüen, J.D., President and CEO, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Bank United Center
1245 Dauer Drive
Coral Gables, FL
2:30 p.m. Kendall Campus - Helen Aguirre Ferré, Chair, MDC District Board of Trustees
Kendall Campus Gymnasium
11011 SW 104 Street
Building 7000
Miami, FL
4:00 p.m. Medical Center Campus - Dr. Bernd A. Wollschlaeger, President, Dade County Medical Association
Bank United Center
1245 Dauer Drive
Coral Gables, FL
7:30 p.m. Wolfson Campus - The Honorable Hilda L. Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor
Bank United Center
1245 Dauer Drive
Coral Gables, FL
Media-only contacts:
Juan Mendieta, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu, MDC communications director
Tarnell Carroll, 305-237-3359, tcarroll@mdc.edu, Media Specialist
Sue Arrowsmith, 305-237-3710, sue.arrowsmith@mdc.edu, media specialist
Alejandro Rios, 305-237-7482, arios1@mdc.edu