Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Two veteran Republican members of the Mississippi congressional delegation will address Mississippi State graduates next month during the university's spring graduations.
The May 13 commencement programs in Humphrey Coliseum will be among the first official ceremonies led by new university President Robert H. Foglesong. The retired four-star Air Force general became the 18th chief executive of the 128-year-old land-grant institution in mid-April.
More than 2,000 students are candidates for degrees. Depending on the academic major, the students and their families will hear remarks by U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker of Tupelo at 9:30 a.m. or Sen. Trent Lott of Pascagoula at 2:30 p.m.
The morning program includes a conferring of degrees by the colleges of Arts and Sciences; Architecture, Art and Design; and Business and Industry; as well as the School of Accountancy.
During the afternoon, diplomas will be awarded by the Bagley College of Engineering, and the colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Education, Forest Resources, and Veterinary Medicine (master's and doctoral degrees only), along with the School of Human Sciences.
Wicker, who represents the 1st District, served two terms in the Mississippi Senate prior to his election to Congress in 1995. He was an active duty member of the U.S. Air Force before moving to the Air Force Reserve, retiring in 2004 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
In the House, Wicker is a part of the leadership team, serving as deputy majority whip and a second-term member of the Republican Policy Committee. He also is a member of the Appropriations and Budget committees, and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority Congressional Caucus.
Lott is in his 33rd year of congressional service to the Magnolia State. Before being elected to the Senate in 1988, he served 16 years in the House of Representatives. He is the first member of Congress ever elected party whip in both houses. He served as the Senate majority leader 1996-2002.
In the 109th Congress, Lott chairs the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and the Joint Committee on Printing. He also is a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Finance Committee, Joint Committee on Taxation, and Select Committee on Intelligence.
Both Wicker and Lott hold bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Mississippi.