PRESQUE ISLE – Two people who have been elected by their peers – one to the U.S. Senate and one as a key speaker before his classmates – will address a sea of graduates at Northern Maine Community College’s commencement exercises on Saturday.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will speak to the 210 graduates during the ceremony, Jason Parent, NMCC’s director of development and college relations, said Monday.

One of those graduates – Joey Cyr of Van Buren – will join Collins in speaking during the event. Parent said that Cyr, who is a 22-year-old senior in NMCC’s automotive technology program, was elected by his classmates to be this year’s senior speaker.

Cyr graduated from Van Buren District Secondary School in 2002 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army.

He earned the rank of corporal and served both at home and overseas in Korea before being honorably discharged in 2005 and enrolling at NMCC, according to Parent.

Collins, a native of Caribou, is serving her second term in Washington. She is the 15th woman in history to be elected to the Senate. She is currently the ranking member and a former chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security.

She served six years on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, according to her biography.

At this point, Parent said Monday, a number of students who will graduate on Saturday already have jobs lined up, especially those who are receiving degrees in the nursing and allied health fields.

He said that NMCC officials expect to gather solid figures about job placement and future career plans for graduates after the students complete a survey seeking such information on Wednesday.

“The graduates are very excited,” Parent said. “They are in the midst of final exams right now, but they are anxious for graduation.”

Tim Crowley, NMCC’s president, described Collins in a written statement as “a strong supporter of the college and a great friend of higher education.”

He added that the college, its students and faculty “have benefited from her advocacy and efforts.”

This year’s commencement comes on the heels of the college’s precision metals manufacturing program being accredited by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills.

The designation demonstrates that the program meets national industry standards, and NMCC is one of only 125 schools nationwide to earn the honor.

Crowley said that Collins was “instrumental” in securing federal funding to establish the high-tech program at the college four years ago.

During a telephone interview Monday afternoon, Collins said that it will be a “special pleasure” to deliver the commencement address in light of the recent accreditation for the precision metals manufacturing program and the fact that she assisted in garnering funding for the program.

“I am honored to be speaking at NMCC’s commencement, and it’s always wonderful to come back to The County” she said. “I plan to urge the graduates to stay in Maine and to get involved in community service.”

The college’s 44th graduating class will receive their diplomas when the event gets under way at 10 a.m. in NMCC’s gymnasium.