AUGUSTA – A total of 1,944 college students will graduate from Maine’s seven community colleges at commencement ceremonies around the state this month.

It will be the first graduating class of community college students since the former technical colleges assumed the name and mission of community colleges last summer. Systemwide, the number of graduates is up 16 percent over last year.

Speakers at this year’s commencement exercises, as well as the times and dates, are as follows (locations are on campus unless otherwise noted):

Friday, May 14, 2 p.m., Central Maine Community College, Auburn, (326 graduates), Marguerite Stapleton, vice president for mission effectiveness, Sisters of Charity Healthcare Systems.

Friday, May 14, 1 p.m., Washington County Community College, Calais, (188 graduates), Maine Rep. Patrick Colwell, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, Calais High School.

Saturday, May 15, 1 p.m., Eastern Maine Community College, Bangor, (276 graduates), U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins, Bangor Auditorium.

Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m., Northern Maine Community College, Presque Isle, (227 graduates), Mark-Tami Hatto, chief engineer of Ford Motor Co.’s Proving Grounds and Test Facilities.

Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, (471 graduates), 10 a.m. speaker, Darcy Wakefield, Instructor, SMCC English Department; 1 p.m., Stephen Gotlieb, chairman, SMCC Criminal Justice Program.

Saturday, May 15, 1 p.m., York County Community College, Wells, (91 graduates), U.S. Rep. Thomas Allen.

Saturday, May 22, 11 a.m., Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield, (365 graduates), former Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Daniel E. Wathen, Augusta Civic Center.