Darton State College is pleased to announce that Governor Nathan Deal will be the guest speaker at this year’s fall commencement ceremony on Tuesday, December 10 at 7 p.m. in the Cavalier Arena.

Deal, who grew up in Sandersville, has devoted much of his life to public service. After graduating from Mercer University with a law degree, he served in the U.S. Army at Fort Gordon in Augusta, and then began a private law practice in Gainesville. While his wife taught in Hall County public schools, the governor began a long span of service to his community as prosecutor, judge, state senator and U.S. congressman.

During his 17 years in Congress, Deal rose to chair the Health Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce, where he became a noted expert on entitlement reform and health care policy. Deal ended his congressional career to campaign for governor, becoming the Republican nominee in August 2010 and then winning the governorship in November of that year. He was sworn in as Georgia’s 82^nd governor on Jan. 10, 2011.

The governor and first lady have four adult children and six grandchildren.

Approximately 395 graduates will be participating in the commencement ceremony. Following commencement, the Darton State College Foundation and the Student Government Association will host a reception for the graduates and their families in the student center.

In addition, Darton State College’s Health Science division will hold its pinning ceremony on December 10 at 3 p.m., followed by the nursing pinning ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Both ceremonies will take place in the Cavalier Arena.