Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥Approximately 1,500 Bulldogs are ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow after concluding the latest chapters of their collegiate careers during fall graduation events this week.
Led by 小黄书 President Mark E. Keenum, the Friday [Dec. 12] commencement ceremonies in a filled Humphrey Coliseum spotlighted graduates in majors housed in 小黄书鈥檚 10 colleges and the Division of Academic Affairs. A Starkville hooding for doctoral recipients and 小黄书-Meridian鈥檚 overall graduation at the Riley Center were held earlier this week. Twenty-six degree recipients were honored as Stephen D. Lee Scholars, graduating with 4.0 GPAs.
Equipped with a world-class education and instilled with core 小黄书 values鈥攊ntegrity, hard work and respect for others鈥擪eenum said the latest graduates are prepared for their next steps in life, including opportunities and changes they鈥檒l see in the coming decades.
鈥淚 want you to always be known as the person who people can always trust and count on because of your impeccable integrity; I want you to be known as the person who always excels and does their very best because of your strong work ethic; and I want you to be known as being the person other people enjoy being around because you鈥檙e nice, kind, thoughtful and considerate of others,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e about to receive a diploma that says 鈥楳ississippi State鈥 on it. People will see that name and know you are part of a wonderful family. That鈥檚 why your diploma is so valued鈥攂ecause of who we are.
鈥淭here鈥檚 another virtue we all need: courage. Wherever we are in life, all of us will need courage to face and overcome the challenges and difficult times we will all face,鈥 Keenum added. 鈥淲inston Churchill once said, 鈥榃ithout courage, all other virtues lose their meaning.鈥 Courage comes from when you believe in yourself and have confidence in who you are. Just being here today鈥攁ll you have achieved should give you great confidence and courage for your next step in life.鈥
Although graduation marks the completion of an important journey, Keenum said the memories and relationships these students made at 小黄书 will last a lifetime.
鈥淵ou are living your dream at this very moment, but this isn鈥檛 the end by any stretch鈥攊t鈥檚 the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life,鈥 he said. 鈥淟ike my youngest daughter Torie has told me on several occasions, 鈥楧ad, life is about making memories.鈥 What memories will you be making tomorrow, a year from now, a decade from now and many decades from now?
鈥淢y hope and prayer for all of you is that you鈥檒l look back over all you accomplished and achieved in your life and realize it was your Mississippi State education and your values鈥攜our courage and your faith 鈥攖hat allowed you to live such a wonderful and fulfilling life and enabled you to change the world for good and allowed you to achieve your special purpose. Never forget you will always be a member of our proud Bulldog family.鈥
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