MARION — Marion Military Institute graduates were sent off to the next stage in their lives with a speech by U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, the featured speaker during the 2012 MMI Commencement Ceremony last weekend.

Seventy-one cadets completed MMI’s two-year program and received an Associate of Science degree. Of those 71 graduates, 28 also received their commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.

“I am very excited to be graduating MMI and commissioning as a 2nd lieutenant,” graduate Deldravin Sykes-Robinson said. “MMI has given me a great start and solid foundation in which to build my education and my career.”

Sessions addressed the graduating class in the William R. Ireland Athletic Center.

Sessions has represented Alabama in Washington for more than 14 years and is the Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee.

Sessions is also a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee — which oversees the nation’s military — the Judiciary Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Following a reception for graduates and guests at the home of MMI President and Mrs. David Mollahan, 28 graduates were commissioned into the U.S. Army during a ceremony in the Ireland Center. Visiting campus as the guest speaker was Brig. Gen. Patt Maney, United States Army (Retired).

Maney is a veteran of Operation Just Cause; Operation Uphold Democracy; Operations Joint Guard and Joint Endeavor and Operation Enduring Freedom. He has served as an Okaloosa County Court judge since 1989 and has spearheaded and coordinated countless efforts on behalf of veterans in the state of Florida.