Deal to speak at Columbus State commencement

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is scheduled to speak to nearly 800 students graduating from Columbus State University next week.

School officials say Deal will speak Monday at the Columbus Civic Center and school officials will also celebrate the first graduating class for the university’s UTeach Columbus program.

The program is focused on preparing teachers to enter in-demand fields such as science, technology, engineering and math.

Participants in the program earn degrees in biology, chemistry, earth and space science, or mathematics and are eligible to teach in middle or high schools after passing state certification exams.