Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC) is proud to honor the graduating class of 2020. The College is hosting a virtual commencement on Friday, August 7, to provide an opportunity for all to enjoy the celebration from the comfort of their own homes. 

“We felt this was the safest option for our graduates while still honoring them in a grand way,” said Dr. Tim Harrison, Dean of Students and College Services. “This year has been unique for everyone, and the perseverance that this graduating class has shown is beyond measure.”
The celebration will include a video montage of the campus, the singing of the National Anthem by the CVCC choir, special greetings from Mayor Eddie Lowe, the conferring of degrees, and a special slideshow in which each graduate is recognized.

A touching moment of the ceremony includes the recognition of Phenix City Assistant Police Chief Gail Green-Gilliam who recently passed away. College officials describe Green-Gilliam as a member of the CVCC Pirate family who worked tirelessly to achieve an associate degree in criminal justice and also faithfully served as a member of the CVCC Career Technical Education Advisory Board.
“She was such a bright light in our community, always willing to help in any way she could,” said President Jackie Screws. “We honor her memory by awarding her the honorary associate of science degree in criminal justice posthumously. She is most deserving.”

“On behalf of my mother, Mrs. Bertha Edmond, and family, I express our sincere appreciation for the efforts to acknowledge my sister,” said Richard Banks. “We are extremely proud of her.”

In addition to special awards and tributes, the virtual commencement ceremony includes a keynote address from Kenneth Kelly, the chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank of Detroit, Michigan. It is now the 8th largest African-American controlled commercial bank in the country.

Kelly is also chairman of the board of MAC Leasing, an equipment leasing company based in Michigan. In April 2020, he assumed the position of chairman of the Auburn University Engineering Alumni Council. In September 2019, the College of Engineering academic excellence reception area was named in his honor. Mr. Kelly was also awarded the Auburn University Distinguished Engineer Award in 2014, and he established an endowment for minority engineering students from his hometown of Eufaula, Alabama.

Earlier this year, Kelly was inducted into the prestigious State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. He has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council and the national FDIC Community Bank Advisory Committee.

Kelly retired from the Southern Company after 27 years of service in 2017. He has attained several noteworthy achievements and awards and is an experienced leader in energy and banking. Kelly also leads in community and civic endeavors, including founding member of Hands-On Birmingham, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 100 Black Men and the National Black MBA Association, just to name a few.

Kelly earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and earned his executive M.B.A. degree from the University of Alabama. He is married to Dr. Kimberly Lang Kelly of Mobile and is the father of two children Kerra Alexis and Kenneth Alexander II.