Griffin and Hardaway Named Commencement Speakers

Andrea Byerly
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 12:00 AM
All, Community, Press Releases

CLEVELAND, TN - Cleveland State Community College will conduct two commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 3, 2024. The 10 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates in the Business and Healthcare programs. The 2 p.m. ceremony will honor graduates in the Advanced Technologies, Arts and Humanities, Education, Social Sciences, STEM and Tennessee Valley Early College programs. Both ceremonies will be held in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium on the Cleveland State campus.

Mike Griffin, Chairman of the Cleveland State Foundation Board of Trustees will give the keynote address for the first ceremony at 10 a.m. Griffin worked more than 30 years in banking before taking on his current role of President and CEO of the Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce. Griffin serves on the Thrive Regional Partnership executive board; he is President-Elect of the University of Tennessee Alumni Association Board of Governors.

Griffin has earned numerous awards and accolades throughout his career such as the Servant Leader Award from the Tennessee Association of Community Leadership, Rotarian of the Year, William F. Johnson United Way Community Service Award and the Ron Braam Award for Outstanding Leadership to Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region.

Dr. Vant Hardaway, member of the Cleveland State Foundation Board of Trustees, will give the keynote address for the second ceremony at 2 p.m. Hardaway is a retired educator from McMinn County and a retired minister. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Tennessee Wesleyan University, the Athens Federal Foundation Advisory Board and the Athens Starr Regional Hospital Board.

Hardaway has served on the Court Appointed Special Advocate Advisory Board, Coordinated Charities Board of Directors, Athens Regional Planning Commission and the McMinn County Youth Affairs Advisory Board. In 2016, Hardaway was named the Athens Man of the Year.

“We are honored to have two distinguished commencement speakers, Mr. Griffin and Dr. Hardaway, both dedicated to serving their community and inspiring others,” said Dr. Andy White, Cleveland State President. “Our graduates have worked hard, and the college administration, faculty and staff look forward to celebrating their achievements. It is a privilege for me to be a part of this special occasion, and I congratulate these students on reaching this significant academic milestone.”

For those unable to attend the commencement ceremonies, the events will be streamed live and can be viewed at mycs.cc/graduation.

Mr. Mike Griffin (above left) and Dr. Vant Hardaway (above right)