U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, who represents the 7th District, is the keynote speaker at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s Commencement on Saturday, May 2.

It will be the first time Commencement is staged in the Irwin Belk Athletic Complex. A record class, estimated at 607, will graduate in ceremonies that begin at 10 a.m.

A Lumberton native, U.S. Rep. McIntyre is serving his 7th term in Congress. He is a member of the House Agriculture and the Armed Services committees. He serves as co-chairman of the Rural Caucus Task Force on Jobs, Economic Development and Transportation; the Steering Committee of the Rural Health Care Coalition and is co-chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Responsible Fatherhood.

Aerospace executive Mary Ann Elliott will receive an honorary doctorate.

Elliott is also a Lumberton native and is one of the first women to break the glass ceiling in the aerospace industry. After working for Motorola, COMSAT and several other satellite technology companies, she ultimately founded her own company, in 1991.

Elliott built Arrowhead Global Solutions, Inc. into a company with annual revenues of $100 million before selling the company in 2007. A friend of the University, Elliott makes frequent speaking engagements here and established two endowed scholarships.

Grand Marshal is Dr. Susan Cannata, an English professor and winner of the 2009 UNC Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence.