ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Piedmont Virginia Community College’s outgoing president will be delivering a keynote address at an upcoming naturalization ceremony.

PVCC reports that Dr. Frank Friedman has been selected as this year’s keynote speaker for the annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

"It's really a recognition of the fact that what our new citizens are seeking in becoming citizens is opportunity," he said. "And that's really what community college is all about."

According to a release, this particular ceremony is the oldest continuous naturalization ceremony that is held outside of a courtroom, and Friedman will be the first community college president to deliver the keynote address.

This year, more than 45 people will be taking the oath of citizenship at Monticello, becoming naturalized citizens of the United States.

“I am honored to be speaking at Monticello on July 4. Past speakers have included five United States Presidents, several Virginia Governors, Collin Powell, Madeleine Albright and multiple Pulitzer Prize winners,” said Friedman. “The selection of a community college president recognizes the tremendous impact community colleges have on immigrants to our country.”

He has been the president of PVCC since 1999 and will be retiring this Friday.

Friedman will hold the title of President Emeritus from the State Board for Community Colleges following his retirement.

During his tenure at PVCC, Friedman has been credited with growing enrollment by 25 percent, increasing the number of graduates to 1,200 a year, establishing Network2Work, expanding adult education options, growing academic programming options to meet high-demand career field needs, and more.

For more information on his career, click here.

For more on the Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello, click here.