CHARLOTTE – N.C. Speaker of the House Thom Tillis gave the commencement address to almost 1,000 students at Central Piedmont Community College graduation ceremonies on May 12.

Tillis, a Cornelius resident, is serving his third term representing north Mecklenburg County in the House. Students received their high school and general education diplomas and college degrees throughout a day’s festivities.

The college holds only one graduation ceremony every year, with summer and fall graduates participating. The Adult High School/GED Graduation took place at 11 a.m., and the Traditional Undergraduate Ceremony, where Tillis spoke, at 7 p.m.

At the evening ceremony, the college honored James E. Rogers with the 2011 Richard H. Hagemeyer Educational Advancement Award, the school’s top alumnus award, and Allen Tate with the Distinguished Service Award, the college’s highest honor.