Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, chair of the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges, will give the keynote address during Commencement exercises at Edgecombe Community College on Friday, May 11.

Commencement begins at 7 p.m. and will be held in Keihin Auditorium on the Tarboro campus.

ECC’s Class of 2012 comprises 628 students, including 538 associate degree, diploma, and certificate students, 89 GED students, and one Adult High School student. It is the college's largest class ever.

Hilda Pinnix-Ragland is vice president of corporate public affairs for Progress Energy, and in that role works with officials at the federal, state, and local levels to develop responsible public policy that protects consumers and businesses. She also serves as vice chair of Progress Energy’s Corporate Diversity Council.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina A&T State University (graduating magna cum laude) and a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University. She has completed the Harvard University Kennedy School of Public Policy Executive Leadership Program.

Pinnix-Ragland has received numerous honors and awards. Among them are appointments by Governor Perdue to the Budget Reform and Accountability Commission and to the Governor’s Transition Team, the NC 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from NC A&T State University.

For more information on ECC’s Commencement exercises, call 823-5166, ext. 255.