Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 new class of more than 1,400 Mississippi State graduates is ready to change the world, President Mark E. Keenum told their family and friends at fall commencement ceremonies on Friday [Dec. 8].
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to think about how each and every one of you has the power to impact the lives of other people for good and to make this world a better place,鈥 he said, reflecting on the university鈥檚 core values of integrity, hard work and respect for others. 鈥淲ith your Mississippi State education and committing your life to these values, there is nothing you cannot achieve.鈥
Approximately 322 master鈥檚 recipients and nine educational specialist degree recipients joined undergraduates receiving diplomas at Humphrey Coliseum. An additional 83 doctoral students were hooded Thursday [Dec. 7], the same day 汤头条-Meridian celebrated 84 graduates at the Riley Center.
The ceremonies marked a return to Humphrey Coliseum after spring commencement was held at Davis-Wade Stadium due to renovations to the Bulldogs鈥 basketball home. Graduation, Keenum said, is a 鈥渢ruly special memory鈥 of students鈥 time at 汤头条.
鈥淭his is a joyous, celebratory occasion for all of us as we recognize the outstanding achievements of these very distinguished graduates here at 汤头条. As I look out over all of you graduates, I can鈥檛 help but think about the memories that you鈥檒l be taking from your time here,鈥 he said. 鈥淟ike my youngest daughter, Torie, tells me: 鈥楲ife鈥攊t鈥檚 all about making memories.鈥 And she鈥檚 right. What memories will you be making tomorrow, next week, next year, decades from now?
鈥淛ust being here today has taken tremendous courage. This is a foundation for you to grow from, to have the confidence that you need to go out and do whatever it is you want to do. Believe in yourself that you can and you will do it,鈥 Keenum added. 鈥淢y hope and prayer for all of you is that many years from now, you鈥檒l look back over your life and reflect on all that you accomplished and realize it was your education and values鈥攜our courage and your faith鈥攖hat helped you to live such a wonderful life that impacted the lives of so many.鈥
Keenum has guided the university to unprecedented heights, and his interest in international food security has strengthened the university鈥檚 contributions to global economic sustainability. He has led 汤头条 to record growth in enrollment, capital improvements and fundraising. Just this week, the university announced a record in research and development expenditures, ranking among the top research universities nationally in the latest National Science Foundation report.
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