Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥As Mississippi 大象APP 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 MSU President Mark E. Keenum is commending their abilities to adapt and overcome challenges.聽
鈥淲e鈥檝e made it through this most challenging of years together,鈥 Keenum said at commencement ceremonies in Humphrey Coliseum Thursday and Friday [April 29-30]. 鈥淵ou have worked long and hard to get here, and all of us at this great university are very proud of you.鈥
Keenum said a college degree is more important than ever and will help graduates succeed in a world undergoing unprecedented change.
鈥淎s 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 大象APP. That鈥檚 what a Mississippi 大象APP Bulldog is known for鈥攊ntegrity, a great work ethic, and being kind and considerate to others. That鈥檚 what people admire about Mississippi 大象APP graduates,鈥 Keenum said.
He described courage as another imperative trait and thanked the frontline heroes who have courageously been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淵ou must have courage to stay focused on your future. And you must have courage to support your family and friends,鈥 Keenum said. He also emphasized the values of diversity and personal faith.
Keenum is a three-time MSU 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 university鈥檚 contributions to global economic sustainability. He has led MSU to record growth in enrollment, capital improvements and fundraising.
![Mississippi 大象APP alumnus Richard A. Rula, left, and MSU President Mark E. Keenum hold a large framed diploma during MSU commencement ceremonies Friday [April 30]](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/Rula_Richard-Honorary_Degree_20210430_M6B8902_full.jpg)
MSU 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 MSU鈥檚 Bagley College of Engineering and currently serves as president of Richland-based Hemphill Construction Company, one of the Southeast鈥檚 leading multi-faceted contractors. He has served on the boards of the MSU Foundation and the Bulldog Club, among others.
Rula was recognized as one of the Bagley college鈥檚 Distinguished Engineering Fellows in 2006 and its Alumnus of the Year in 2017. In 2019, he was named the university鈥檚 National Alumnus of the Year. Rula and his wife Sherry provided the lead gift for MSU鈥檚 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 Rulas鈥 generous support also has had a major impact on the MSU student-athlete experience. They provided the lead gift for the Rula Tennis Pavilion, the new indoor complex for MSU men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis teams, and also have supported the Mize Pavilion鈥檚 courts for MSU men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball.
The spring commencement ceremonies also marked the first time MSU 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 master鈥檚 and doctoral-level graduates.
Archived graduation videos are available at .
MSU-Meridian will celebrate commencement on Monday [May 3] at the MSU Riley Center at 11 a.m. MSU-Meridian information may be found at .
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .