College officials bestowed 571 degrees and certificates on the 264 members of the Class of 2012 during Rappahannock Community College’s 40th commencement ceremony May 11 at the school’s Warsaw campus.

This number of degrees and certificates breaks the record set at last year’s commencement, according to RCC spokesperson Tom Martin.

The ceremony also included for the first time 80 graduates of RCC’s Adult Education and Middle College programs, who received high school diplomas or GED certificates.

"This is a significant time in the history of the college," said RCC president Elizabeth "Sissy" Crowther as she welcomed the attendees. "We are experiencing unprecedented growth, student attainment, and community training … I could not be more proud of our graduates."

Michael D. Jenkins, executive director of the Bay Consortium Workforce Investment Board, Inc., was the keynote speaker of the evening. Jenkins was a member o...