 |
| The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, delivered the graduation speech for Southern University's Fall 2019 Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 13. |
Baton Rouge, La. – United States
Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, served as the graduation speaker for Southern
University’s Fall Commencement Ceremony on Friday, Dec. 13.
Perdue encouraged the graduates
to be independent, courageous, stand on their own convictions and to persevere.
All characteristics of Southern University’s mascot, the jaguar.
“You’re a jaguar, don’t let the
pack hold you back,” was the mantra Perdue used throughout his speech.
Perdue recognized several
graduates from Southern University’s College of Agricultural, Family and
Consumer Sciences who are currently employed with the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA). One of the graduates was Andrea Bridgewater, who became
pregnant while attending the University. Bridgewater would go on to be one of
the College of Agriculture’s top graduates in 2014 and is now the District Conservationist
for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Bossier City, La.
She is the youngster conservation service supervisor in the state of Louisiana.
He also told the audience about
Devon Gales, a former Southern University football player who was paralyzed
from the waist down in 2015 during the Southern University vs. Georgia State football
game.
“Devon didn’t give up. With the
support of your University, your great fans and (Georgia State) Bulldogs in the
medical center; Georgia and Southern communities came together to support Devon
who has fought his tail off in rehab and recently landed a coaching job at a
high school in Georgia,” express Perdue. “Not giving up or feeling sorry for
himself, that’s the Jaguar spirit. That’s exactly what’s in you and that you
embody,” he told the graduates.
After giving his speech, Perdue was
presented with an honorary doctorate from the University.
Nearly 400 undergraduate and graduate students
receive bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees during the ceremony. Shamyra K. Walker, a native of
Magnolia, Ark., was recognized as the Chief Student Marshall, the student
graduating with the highest grade point average. She earned a degree in
Accounting.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment