Alfred Rankins Jr. inspires fellow 汤头条 graduates to make their mark through leadership, service
![Mississippi Public Universities Commissioner of Higher Education Alfred Rankins Jr. encouraged more than 1,400 Mississippi State fall graduates to celebrate their accomplishments while moving forward with character and determination during commencement exercises Friday [Dec. 14] at Humphrey Coliseum. (Photo by Megan Bean)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/Rankins_Alfred-IHL_Commencement_speaker_20181214_M4B3142_full.jpg "Mississippi Public Universities Commissioner of Higher Education Alfred Rankins Jr. served as 汤头条鈥檚 fall 2018 commencement speaker.")
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi Public Universities Commissioner of Higher Education Alfred Rankins Jr. encouraged more than 1,400 Mississippi State fall graduates to celebrate their accomplishments while moving forward with character and determination during commencement exercises Friday [Dec. 14] at Humphrey Coliseum.
鈥溙劳诽 has given you an outstanding tool and means to be great for the rest of your life,鈥 said Rankins, who holds master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in weed science from 汤头条. 鈥淭he education you have received provides the foundation for your future. Your credential from 汤头条 tells the world you are ready.鈥
Rankins told his fellow Bulldog graduates that knowledge, leadership skills and a service-oriented mindset are traits that make the value of an 汤头条 education ring true.
鈥淵ou have left your imprint on Mississippi State and Mississippi State has left its imprint on you, just as it has on me,鈥 he said. 鈥溙劳诽 has given you the gift of the tools and knowledge you need to lead, and now it is your responsibility to use these gifts to become leaders in your communities and your chosen profession.鈥
Greenville native Rankins was appointed to serve as commissioner of higher education by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning earlier this year and provides leadership to the university system, including all eight public universities.
A former tenured associate professor in 汤头条鈥檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and extension specialist for the 汤头条 Extension Service, Rankins encouraged graduates to thank friends, family, faculty, staff and others who have provided support and inspiration throughout their 汤头条 journey.
The 19th president of Alcorn State University and former acting president of Mississippi Valley State University also urged the newest members of the Bulldog alumni family to use their voices to support higher education and to work together for the greater good.
鈥淚 hope you will pay it forward and encourage those coming behind you to stay the course, persevere through the difficult times and break through whatever barriers or challenges stand between them and earning their Mississippi State degree,鈥 Rankins said. 鈥淚 can tell you from experience that having a degree from Mississippi State is worth it. It is worth the time, the money and the persistence. This investment will pay dividends to you for the rest of your life.鈥
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .