DANVILLE — Once again, Danville Area Community College will confer a record number of degrees and certificates at this year's commencement exercises.

"We're excited but certainly not surprised," President Alice Jacobs said of getting to award more than 450 degrees and certificates to students. That's about 100 more than the 350 in 2010, which was a record number that year. "We're continuing to experience record enrollments, and record enrollments lead to record numbers of graduates."

In addition, Jacobs said the college has been working even harder to ensure that students meet their academic goals.

"It's not enough just to have access" to higher education, Jacobs said. "We need to concentrate on student success. We've always done that, but we've placed a greater emphasis on that in the last two years."

Nearly 200 graduates are expected to participate.

"For me, it's the best event of the year," Jacobs said. "I'm always excited to see students reaching their goals and their families out in the audience. Having a record number makes it even more exciting."

And for the second year, the ceremony will include graduates from both the Level I and Level II nursing program. Janet Redenbaugh, dean of the college's science and math division, said 71 students will receive their licensed practical nursing certificate, while 27 will receive their associate of applied science degree.

"Those people will be eligible to take the registered nurses licensure exam," she said of the 27 Level II program graduates.

The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. Friday in the Mary Miller gymnasium on DACC's campus, 2000 E. Main St.

Mike Finkle, senior vice president, investments and senior partner of Financial Legacy Partners, Wealth Advisors of Raymond James, will give the commencement address.

Finkle served on the DACC Board of Trustees from 1978 to 1983. He also chaired the Danville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau board and the United Samaritans Medical Center Divisional Board, served on the Danville school, Danville Chamber of Commerce and Vermilion Healthcare Foundation boards.

Finkle was named the Danville Chapter of AMBUCS First Citizen in 1989. He also received the Community Leadership Award from District 54 of Toastmasters International in 1994 and the Danville Rotary Vocational Service Award for outstanding leadership in his profession and community in 2008.

Also at the ceremony, officials will recognize graduates of distinction: students who have a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 and are graduating summa cum laude; those with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 to 3.999 and are graduating magna cum laude; and those with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5-3.749 and are graduating cum laude.