Collin College will hand out degrees to roughly 1,400 graduates at two commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 15, both held at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center at 200 E. Stacy Road in Allen. The morning ceremony at 11 a.m. will honor students with academic certificates, Associate of Applied Science degrees and bachelor’s degrees, with Aaron Demerson delivering the commencement address. A second ceremony at 4 p.m. will celebrate dual credit students and those earning Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees, with Plano Police Chief Ed Drain as speaker. This day highlights both individual achievement and the broader role Collin College plays across Collin County and the region.
The 11 a.m. ceremony is set to spotlight students who completed professional and baccalaureate programs, recognizing the range of pathways the college supports. Aaron Demerson will be the commencement speaker; he is president and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation and brings experience from his time as the commissioner representing employers on the Texas Workforce Commission. During his service on that commission he “advocated for over 660,000 employers and over 3 million small businesses,” a focus that ties directly to workforce development and economic opportunity. His remarks are expected to speak to careers, community ties and the practical value of applied degrees in today’s job market.
The afternoon ceremony at 4 p.m. will put dual credit students and those finishing traditional associate degrees front and center. Dual credit graduates often bridge high school and college, and this ceremony recognizes their early jump into higher education as well as students finishing Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Arts in Teaching programs. Plano Police Chief Ed Drain will deliver remarks to this group, bringing a blend of public service perspective and personal history to the stage. His path from military service to law enforcement leadership is a visible example of community-focused career progression.
Ed Drain is introduced as a U.S. Army veteran who joined the department in 1994, later leaving to serve as Amarillo police chief before returning in 2020 to lead Plano PD. That trajectory underscores decades of front-line experience in policing and municipal leadership, and it gives him a platform to talk about service, resilience and civic responsibility. Graduates hearing his words will be getting a speaker who has navigated public sector challenges and understands community expectations. His presence ties the ceremony to local public safety leadership and a commitment to the region.
Collin College is the only public college based in Collin County, and the institution reports serving about 60,000 credit and continuing education students each year. That scale reflects a broad mix of learners: recent high school graduates, adults returning to school, and professionals pursuing certificates or degrees to advance or change careers. The college currently offers more than 200 degrees and certificates, a catalog meant to meet both workforce needs and traditional academic goals. Its programming spans technical, health, business and academic tracks to support a fast-changing local economy.
Among the bachelor’s and applied degree offerings are a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Clinical Operations Management. The college also recently added a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Software Development, reflecting demand for tech skills locally and nationally. These degrees are designed to connect classroom learning with employer needs, giving graduates clearer paths into jobs that pay well and offer career growth. For many students, the choice of a bachelor’s at a local public college makes higher education more affordable and directly relevant to regional industries.
Friday’s two ceremonies will be a mix of celebration and practical milestones as graduates, families and faculty mark transitions into careers, further study and community life. The setting in Allen’s Credit Union of Texas Event Center brings the community together to acknowledge student achievement across multiple program types. For the college, this commencement is both a showcase of individual success and a reminder of Collin College’s role in regional workforce development. Readers who want to follow local coverage and stay connected to community milestones are encouraged to support their neighborhood news outlets such as The Wylie News.
