CANTON -- Former Rep. Bill Owens is to be keynote speaker as more than 1,000 SUNY Canton students will receive their diplomas and many will be presented with special awards at the school’s 107th Commencement Ceremony, starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9 in Roos House.

“Commencement allows us the chance to recognize the quality and achievement of our faculty, staff, community members and supporters alongside our graduating class,” said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. “I add my congratulations and want to thank all of the individuals who have made a lasting mark on the college.”

Keynote speaker retired Congressman William L. “Bill” Owens, representative for New York’s 21st Congressional District, spent his time in office supporting higher education, prioritizing job creation and boosting the North Country economy.

“The college has benefited significantly from his efforts,” a press release from the college said. “Congressman Owens helped improve the overall economic viability of the region, which helped the college attract prospective students, employers, faculty members and regional businesses.”

Owens will be receiving a SUNY Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree in recognition of his advocacy for the North Country and his support of SUNY Canton.

Other commencement highlights include:

• Jill L. Martin will be recognized for receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. Martin has been an adjunct instructor teaching English at SUNY Canton since 2000 and started an initiative to incorporate volunteer service components into her courses. Martin previously taught at General Brown, West Hill and Canton High Schools.

• Pamela P. Quinn, the founding faculty member for SUNY Canton’s two-year dental hygiene program, is being recognized for receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. She is an assistant professor and dental hygiene curriculum coordinator who helped the college launch the program in 2006 through a partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College.

• Stephen Frempong, program coordinator for the college’s four-year electrical engineering technology program and chair of the Electrical Technology and Engineering Science Department will be recognized with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award in Scholarship and Creative Activities. Frempong developed the bachelor’s degree program as an extension of the career program of the same name.

• Johanna M. Lee will be recognized by the SUNY Canton student body with the 2015 Northstar Award for her ongoing support of students’ academic and personal success. Lee is the college’s director of tutoring services and a 1997 graduate of SUNY Canton. Lee helped international students adjust to life in Canton, helped students overcome setbacks and graduate on time and otherwise aided students to become successful.