FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC COMMENCEMENT SET MAY 11

Debra Carlson	Sid Dewberry	Winfred Nash	Sherman Saunders

DANVILLE, VA, May 1, 2007 – Four former students will deliver the keynote address at Danville Community College’s Commencement, scheduled Friday, May 11, 2007, at 7:00 p.m., on the grounds near the Hill Building. The speakers are: Sidney O. Dewberry of Arlington, Winfred D. Nash of Lynchburg, Debra Creasy Carlson of Danville, and Danville Vice Mayor Sherman M. Saunders. All fall and spring graduates and students who will complete their studies in the summer will participate.

This year’s theme focuses on the 40th anniversary of DCC. Graduates from the classes of 1966, 1967 and 1968 of DCC and its predecessor, Danville Technical Institute, are invited to the commencement. Alumni from these years are also invited to participate in a reception and special recognition that day, starting at 5 p.m., in Oliver Hall (Temple Building).

Sidney O. Dewberry, chairman and founding partner of Dewberry, an 1840 person, award-winning architectural, engineering, planning, surveying and landscape architecture firm, will be one of the speakers. The company is headquartered in Fairfax, and has 33 offices nationwide, including one in Danville. Dewberry graduated in the first class of DCC’s predecessor, the Danville Branch-Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in 1946. He later earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from George Washington University.           

Active in numerous organizations and the recipient of numerous awards, Dewberry will also be recognized with an honorary degree from DCC. Among his accomplishments, are service on boards and committees including the George Mason University Board of Visitors, of which he is the current Rector, the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees, the George Mason University Civil Engineering Institute Board of Directors as an Emeritus member, the Cardinal Financial Corporation Board of Directors, the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC, the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, the Washington Airports Task Force, the Virginia Business-Higher Education Council, the Foundation for Virginia and the INOVA Health Systems Foundation Board and Executive Committee. He has previously been appointed by the governor to serve on numerous commissions, including the Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education and the Commission on Transportation Policy.             

Debra Creasy Carlson is an attorney with Clement & Wheatley. The Danville native is a 1984 graduate of DCC with an Associate of Arts and Science Degree in Liberal Arts and an Associate of Arts and Science Degree in Business Administration which she received in 1986. She transferred to The College of William and Mary and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government in 1986. She obtained her law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law in 1989 and a Masters of Law in Taxation from the University of Denver in 1990.            

Carlson has served as an instructor at DCC and Averett University. Carlson has been practicing law in the Danville area for the past 17 years and has been with Clement & Wheatley for 11 of those years. Her law practice concentrates in residential real estate, business and corporate law.        

Winfred D. Nash is President of BWX Technologies, Inc.’s Nuclear Operations Division, headquartered in Lynchburg. He was named President in July 2006 when the three BWXT-owned and -operated manufacturing facilities in Virginia, Ohio and Indiana, consolidated operations. He began his professional career in 1966 with the Nuclear Operations Division in Lynchburg as an inspector in the Ultrasonic Inspection area of Quality Control. As his career advanced, Nash was promoted to Foreman and later, Supervisor, before going on to hold senior management positions at the Lynchburg facility. Prior to being named President of BWXT Nuclear Operations Division, he served as Vice President and General Manager of the Lynchburg facility.           

Nash earned his associate degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from Danville Community College in 1968, and his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Old Dominion University. He received a master’s degree in Business Administration from Duke’s Fuqua Business School and attended the Advanced Executive Management training at Northeastern University.

Sherman M. Saunders is Vice Major for the City of Danville, a member of Danville City Council, and the Executive Director of the Pittsylvania County Community Action, Inc. He received his Certificate in Child Care from DCC in 1976. A native of Pittsylvania County, Saunders serves as President of the Virginia Community Action Partnership, which is composed of 30 organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dan River Business Development Center.           

Saunders is a veteran of the United States Army and a member of American Legion Post #29. He is also a member of Judah Lodge #205 F & A Masons, Roman Eagle Nursing Home Board of Directors, West Piedmont Planning District Board of Commissioners, Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and Board of Directors of United Way of Danville - Pittsylvania County. He is also a Past President of Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is an active member of Kentuck Baptist Church.

Associate degrees, diplomas and certificates will be awarded to more than 450 graduates. In addition, scholarship recipients who are continuing their education at four-year institutions will be recognized during the ceremony. Graduates of the DCC and DTI Classes of 1966, 1967 and 1968 who are interested in attending the special recognition and reception event prior to graduation should contact the DCC Educational Foundation Office at 434.797.8495; toll free: 800.560-4291, ext. 8495; or click here.