Wake Tech holds largest graduation ever

Wake Technical Community College held the largest graduation in the school's history at the Raleigh Convention Center Sunday.

More than 1,300 graduates received degrees and diplomas at the 3 p.m. ceremony. That total is up 28 percent from the number of students who graduated last year.

The keynote speaker will be U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a ranking member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

About 40 percent of the new grads were still seeking employment, an increase over 18 percent seeking jobs at graduation a year ago. On average, more than 90 percent of Wake Tech graduates find employment within one year of their graduation, a spokeswoman said.

The 2010 graduates range in age from 17 and 67 and include two married couples and a 48-year-old single mother who is receiving three associates degrees.