State Sen. Dean Kirby, R-District 30, of Pearl will speak at the Hinds Community College July 31 summer commencements in Cain-Cochran Hall's Hogg Auditorium on the Raymond Campus.

Sen. Kirby will speak at the 8:30 a.m. ceremony recognizing graduates of the nursing and allied health programs. He will speak again at the 11:30 a.m. exercises for all other graduates from all Hinds locations.

The total number of those eligible to graduate is 337, with 286 taking part in the ceremonies. This year's summer graduation total is up by 45 over last year.

Because Hinds Community College is committed to increasing the number of graduates, the college has three opportunities a year for students to participate in graduation ceremonies - fall, winter and spring.

Increasing the number of graduates at the nation's 1,200 community colleges is also a priority for President Barack Obama. In his four-point plan announced earlier this month, American Graduation Initiative, he proposes putting $2.5 billion over five years into closing achievement gaps and increasing graduation rates, especially at community colleges.