Southern State Community College will hold its 48th commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 3, in the Patriot Center on the central campus in Hillsboro.

Delivering this year’s address to the graduates is Charles Gorman. A 1972 graduate of Hillsboro High School, Gorman grew up in southern Ohio — Adams and Highland counties. He completed his bachelor of arts and was a master’s candidate in ministry at Abilene Christian University. He then earned his master’s degree at Xavier University and post-graduate endorsement for his independent licensed counselor status at the University of Dayton.

Gorman has worked in all levels of the people-helping professions. These various roles include serving as a chemical dependency counselor, pastoral counselor, professor, mental health clinician, crisis counselor, clinical supervisor and executive director for a combined total of 50 years of service.

He began his career as an ordained minister serving churches in Ohio, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

In Ohio, Gorman currently holds an independent license serving as a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. He has taught at Southern State since 1998 as a professor in the human and social services program, which he has considered his dream job.

Carl Rogers, an American psychologist and shining example to Gorman, believed all people need acceptance, unconditional love, and positive regard to thrive in this world. Similar to Rogers’ beliefs, Gorman’s mantra to life is quite simple: “All people will bloom like flowers when nurtured in a fertile garden. Love covers a multitude of problems.”

Submitted by Elizabeth Burkard, director of marketing, SSCC.