Colby Community College announced that former CCC administrator and current Seward County Community College president Brad Bennett is the featured speaker at the commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Colby Event Center.

Bennett's roots at Colby Community College began in 2008 as an instructor in the business department. During his tenure, he served as chair of the Business and Industry/Behavior Social Sciences Division and president of the CCC Faculty Alliance. His success in the classroom earned the Tangeman Award for Teaching Excellence in 2015. A year later, he was named CCC's vice president of academic affairs and eventually transitioned to the role of executive vice president, combining oversight of academics and student affairs.

Before entering higher education, Bennett taught and coached in the Deer Trail, Colo., K-12 district. He previously worked in management and new store development for two leaders in the outdoor sporting goods industry.

Born in Tulsa, Okla., and raised in Colorado, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Metro State University and a master's in business administration from the University of Phoenix. He is currently in the final stages of completing his doctoral degree.

The 57th annual Colby Community College Commencement can be accessed virtually through Open Spaces Sports, openspacessports.com. Additionally, the nurses pinning earlier in the day will be streamed at 2 p.m.