CVCC Taps Local Architect Gary Harvey as Commencement Speaker

 LYNCHBURG, VA — Central Virginia Community College will turn to a familiar local name to address its graduating class next month.

Gary E. Harvey, president and managing principal of Lynchburg-based Architectural Partners, has been selected as the commencement speaker for CVCC’s 58th graduation ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at the Liberty University Vines Center.

Harvey’s path to that stage is one that mirrors many of the students he’ll be speaking to. Before building a three-decade career as an architect and community leader, he started at CVCC himself, later transferring to Virginia Tech where he earned his architecture degree.

Today, his work is visible across the region. Through Architectural Partners, Harvey has helped shape a wide range of educational, municipal, and commercial projects, with a particular focus on schools and civic spaces. His background also includes a strong interest in historic preservation — something he’s put into practice through multiple terms on Lynchburg’s Historic Preservation Commission.

Outside the office, Harvey has remained closely tied to the community. He currently serves on the Lynchburg City School Board and has been involved with education initiatives, scouting, and local housing efforts.

This year’s graduating class is expected to be one of the college’s larger groups in recent memory, with 1,334 students earning a combined 2,082 credentials across degrees, certificates, and workforce programs.

For many in the crowd, Harvey’s message will likely land close to home — a reminder that the path forward doesn’t have to start far away.