Pritzker to give Harper College graduation speech

U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will speak at Harper College's graduation ceremony.

This isn't Pritzker's first interaction with the Palatine-based community college.

The Chicago billionaire named Harper President Ken Ender to a White House committee aimed at filling the shortage of skilled workers in the manufacturing industry. In December, Ender joined other members of the task force for an inaugural meeting in Washington.

Pritzker called community colleges "a vibrant and valuable part" of the country's education system and economy.

"Locally, they play the critically important role of training our workforce with the skills they need to compete for the jobs of the future," Pritzker said in a statement. "I look forward to speaking at Harper and celebrating the college's stellar efforts to give their students the tools they need to succeed."

The ceremony is scheduled for May 17 at Harper's main campus in Palatine.