Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.āAs Mississippi State marks the end of one of the most challenging and unusual academic years in history, nearly 2,900 graduates are celebrating their milestone accomplishments while Ļć½¶Ö±²„President Mark E. Keenum is commending their abilities to adapt and overcome challenges.Ā
āWeāve made it through this most challenging of years together,ā Keenum said at commencement ceremonies in Humphrey Coliseum Thursday and Friday [April 29-30]. āYou have worked long and hard to get here, and all of us at this great university are very proud of you.ā
Keenum said a college degree is more important than ever and will help graduates succeed in a world undergoing unprecedented change.
āAs you go forward, all of you in life, I hope you will always continue to uphold the core values that we revere here at Mississippi State. Thatās what a Mississippi State Bulldog is known forāintegrity, a great work ethic, and being kind and considerate to others. Thatās what people admire about Mississippi State graduates,ā Keenum said.
He described courage as another imperative trait and thanked the frontline heroes who have courageously been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
āYou must have courage to stay focused on your future. And you must have courage to support your family and friends,ā Keenum said. He also emphasized the values of diversity and personal faith.
Keenum is a three-time Ļć½¶Ö±²„graduate with degrees in agricultural economics. The former Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has guided the university to unprecedented heights, and his interest in international food security has strengthened the universityās contributions to global economic sustainability. He has led Ļć½¶Ö±²„to record growth in enrollment, capital improvements and fundraising.
![Mississippi State alumnus Richard A. Rula, left, and Ļć½¶Ö±²„President Mark E. Keenum hold a large framed diploma during Ļć½¶Ö±²„commencement ceremonies Friday [April 30]](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/Rula_Richard-Honorary_Degree_20210430_M6B8902_full.jpg)
Ļć½¶Ö±²„alumnus Richard A. Rula was honored during the Friday [April 30] afternoon ceremony with an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree for lifetime achievements and longtime major support of university programs. Rula earned a 1970 civil engineering degree from MSUās Bagley College of Engineering and currently serves as president of Richland-based Hemphill Construction Company, one of the Southeastās leading multi-faceted contractors. He has served on the boards of the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Foundation and the Bulldog Club, among others.
Rula was recognized as one of the Bagley collegeās Distinguished Engineering Fellows in 2006 and its Alumnus of the Year in 2017. In 2019, he was named the universityās National Alumnus of the Year. Rula and his wife Sherry provided the lead gift for MSUās new Engineering and Science Complex, which is nearing completion and will be named in his honor. They also have endowed the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, which will be officially named the Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The Rulasā generous support also has had a major impact on the Ļć½¶Ö±²„student-athlete experience. They provided the lead gift for the Rula Tennis Pavilion, the new indoor complex for Ļć½¶Ö±²„menās and womenās tennis teams, and also have supported the Mize Pavilionās courts for Ļć½¶Ö±²„menās and womenās basketball.
The spring commencement ceremonies also marked the first time Ļć½¶Ö±²„graduates have worn custom regalia, featuring maroon and white university seals and inverted maroon pleats on each sleeve for undergraduates and other distinguishing details for masterās and doctoral-level graduates.
Archived graduation videos are available at .
MSU-Meridian will celebrate commencement on Monday [May 3] at the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Riley Center at 11 a.m. MSU-Meridian information may be found at .
Ļć½¶Ö±²„is Mississippiās leading university, available online at .