State Legislator to Speak at ECC Graduation

N.C. Representative Shelly Willingham will give the keynote address during Commencement at Edgecombe Community College on Saturday, May 7.

N.C. Rep. Shelly Willingham will give the keynote address during graduation exercises at Edgecombe Community College on Saturday, May 7.

Commencement begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in Keihin Auditorium on the Tarboro campus. For those unable to attend, live streaming coverage of graduation exercises will be available online.

ECC will graduate 508 students, who will be awarded 630 curriculum degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

Rep. Willingham, who lives in Rocky Mount, represents District 23, which includes Edgecombe County and Martin County. He previously served in the N.C. House from 2001 to 2002.

He is the former campaign director for Congressman G.K. Butterfield. Previous positions also include facilities manager with Down East Partnership for Children and school/community coordinator for Nash and Edgecombe schools.

A long-standing public servant, Rep. Willingham has served as an Edgecombe County commissioner, member of the Edgecombe County Social Services board, chairman of the Edgecombe County Extension Advisory Council, and member of the Mayor’s Economic Development Committee.

He also has been a Communities-in-Schools mentor and served on the Rocky Mount Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, WTVD-TV Advisory Committee, NC Association of ABC Boards, and Twin County Day Reporting Center Advisory Board.

A native of Rocky Mount, Rep. Willingham holds a baccalaureate degree in history from Elizabeth City State University, a diploma in police administration earned in Washington, D.C., and a certificate in Business Development Specialist from Howard University.

For more information on ECC’s Commencement, call 823-5166, ext. 255.