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Oklahoma State University graduates hear keys to success from House Speaker Shannon

Saturday, December 14, 2013

House Speaker T.W. Shannon helps OSU honor graduates
Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker T.W. Shannon offered Oklahoma State University graduates four keys to success during OSU’s 128th commencement Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Shannon shared his thoughts on living life to the fullest. He told OSU’s graduates to:

1. Work hard to become, not to acquire; to live a life of service and giving to the betterment of others.

2. Find contentment in work; work is not always fun, but it brings satisfaction and fulfillment.

3. Create your own opportunities through hard work and preparation; opportunity does not knock on our doors, successful people seek out opportunity.

4. Never stop learning; one of the keys of a satisfied life is knowledge.

Shannon, the first African-American Speaker of the Oklahoma House at the age of 34 and a member of the Chickasaw Nation, spoke at OSU’s two undergraduate commencement ceremonies. 

The morning ceremony honored graduates from the College of Human Sciences, College of Engineering, Architecture & Technology, and Spears School of Business. The afternoon event recognized graduates from the College of Education, College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, and College of Arts & Sciences. 

OSU held its Graduate College commencement Friday at Gallagher-Iba Arena. In all, around 1,600 students earned degrees during Oklahoma State’s fall undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies.

The university awarded two posthumous degrees during its ceremonies. Friday, Bayar Majead Saeed Amedy of Iraq received a Doctor of Philosophy in soil science. A friend received the degree in his honor while his parents watched a live stream of the ceremony. Saturday, Lionel Joseph Kertz, III received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting. His parents and brother from Dallas received the degree in his honor.

For more photos of today's ceremonies, please go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/sets/72157638674563314/ 

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