汤头条

Keenum: Graduating Bulldogs prepared for next chapter of life thanks to 汤头条 education, values

Contact: Carl Smith

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥�With a world-class degree in hand and a personal foundation built on Bulldog values, approximately 4,000 new Mississippi State graduates are ready to change the world.

The Class of 2026 was honored at commencement ceremonies in Starkville and Meridian this week鈥攅vents 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum said were the beginnings of 鈥渁n exciting new chapter鈥� in their lives.

鈥淲ith your degree from this wonderful institution, you鈥檒l have people tripping over themselves to open doors to opportunities for you,鈥� the university鈥檚 19th president said. 鈥淚ntegrity, strong work ethic and respect for others鈥攖hat鈥檚 who we are, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e known for. Embrace and live your life with these values.鈥�

This week鈥檚 ceremonies spotlighted graduates in majors housed in 汤头条鈥檚 10 colleges and the Division of Student Affairs. A Starkville hooding for doctoral recipients and 汤头条-Meridian鈥檚 graduation at the Riley Center were held earlier this week. Also honored were 167 Stephen D. Lee Scholars, who graduated with 4.0 GPAs.

Keenum also conferred honorary Doctor of Public Service degrees to聽William 鈥淏ill鈥� Berry, retired ConocoPhillips executive vice president for worldwide exploration and production, and Archie Tucker, retired area director for the federal government鈥檚 Agricultural Research Service.

Berry earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in petroleum engineering from 汤头条 in 1974 and 1976, respectively. He began his career with Phillips Petroleum in 1976, working his way across the globe in various engineering and management roles in London, England; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; and Stavanger, Norway. In 1992, the Gulfport native moved to China, where he was responsible for the company鈥檚 upstream and downstream activities. The Chinese government recognized him as one of 31 outstanding foreign experts in 1996. He supported education throughout his career and held roles with the 汤头条 Bagley College of Engineering Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council and the 汤头条 Foundation Board, as well as positions with the Beijing International School and Teach for America, among other organizations.

鈥淗e and his wife are two of 汤头条鈥檚 greatest friends,鈥� Keenum said of the couple who helped establish the William and Sherry Berry Chair in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. 鈥淭hey have contributed widely and generously in support of our students and faculty, and their many gifts have expanded access to engineering education and supported students pursuing technical degrees.鈥�

Tucker鈥檚 50-year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 ARS began when he was a 16-year-old high school student and concluded in 2025, when he retired as the Southeast area director while based in Stoneville. He provided leadership for various research projects in nine Southern states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during his tenure. The 1979 Mississippi Valley State University graduate received numerous honors and recognitions throughout his career, including the 2024 A.L. Vandergriff Cotton Pioneer Award from the Southern Cotton Ginners Association, the 2022 Presidential Rank Award鈥攖he highest award a federal civilian employee can receive鈥攁nd multiple Secretary Honor Awards in recognition and appreciation of exceptional performance and outstanding contributions to the success of the USDA. In 2015, Tucker received the USDA鈥檚 most prestigious award, the Abraham Lincoln Award, for exceptional achievement and outstanding contributions to American agriculture. Four years later, he received the Delta Council Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to aquaculture.

鈥溙劳诽� and the Agricultural Research Service have an outstanding research relationship. Our partnership is nationally known as the Mississippi Model and is regarded as one of USDA鈥檚 most efficient and productive research partnerships,鈥� Keenum said. 鈥淟ike so many success stories, the success between 汤头条 and ARS is possible because of the people. I can鈥檛 say enough about how much Archie means to 汤头条 and to me personally. His impact has stretched from the farms in the Delta all the way around the world.鈥�

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