SOUTH PORTLAND – More than 1,000 students are set to graduate from Southern Maine Community College, based in South Portland, on Sunday, May 17. The commencement ceremony will be held at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

According to the college, students in the class of 2015 come from all 16 Maine counties, 14 other states and eight foreign countries and 14 percent of the graduates are also members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Dr. John Fitzsimmons, former longtime president of the Maine Community College System, will deliver the keynote address.

Fitzsimmons led the Maine Community College System for 25 years before stepping down from that post in February. Under his leadership, the system was transformed from technical to community colleges, enrollment grew from 3,300 to more than 18,000 students and access to higher education expanded dramatically across the state.

Also during the graduation on Sunday, Leon and Lisa Gorman, longtime supporters of the Maine Community College System will be honored with a special award. Leon Gorman is the former president and chairman of the board of L.L.Bean, Inc. Lisa Gorman is a community activist and a founder and vice chair of The Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges.