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The nation’s top education official will deliver the keynote address at Foothill College commencement ceremonies on June 25.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, architect of the $4.35 billion reform-oriented “Race to the Top” challenge for public schools, also will speak the following day at commencement ceremonies for Foothill’s sister institution, De Anza College.

“We are thrilled and honored to have Secretary Duncan speak to our students and celebrate this important milestone in their lives,” said Linda M. Thor, chancellor of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District.

“We deeply appreciate the work he has done to communicate the critical role of community colleges in increasing educational attainment in our country and his efforts with the president to ensure that community colleges have adequate resources to do this important work.”

Duncan joined the administration of President Barack Obama in January 2009. Prior to that he headed Chicago Public Schools for seven years.

Former Foothill-De Anza Community College District Chancellor Martha Kanter currently reports to Duncan in her role as U.S. Undersecretary of Education, which she began in July 2009.

The Foothill and De Anza commencement ceremonies are free and open to the public.

Foothill’s will be June 25 at 6 p.m. in the college’s Library Quad, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.

De Anza’s will be Saturday, June 26, at 9 a.m. in the college’s Outdoor Events Arena, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino.

Foothill is a major destination for graduates of Gunn and Palo Alto high schools. The two colleges serve more than 45,000 students a year.

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