Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--United States Rep. Marsha W. Blackburn, a Mississippi State alumna from Brentwood, Tenn., will be featured speaker for the university's two fall semester commencement programs next month.
The graduation exercises will be held in Humphrey Coliseum at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 10 a.m. on the 13th. More than 1,200 students are candidates for degrees.
Blackburn, a Laurel (Miss.) native, is the first female from the Volunteer State chosen to serve in the House of Representatives. Recently re-elected, the Republican is completing her third term in Congress.
Blackburn, a 1973 home economics graduate, represents the 7th District that stretches from Nashville's suburbs to the outskirts of Memphis. She earlier made state history as the first woman to represent the Tennessee Senate's 23rd District.
Last year, her professional papers joined those of other prominent officials in collections of MSU's Congressional and Political Research Center, a part of Mitchell Memorial Library.
Blackburn, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has served as deputy minority whip for the 110th Congress. She has been involved actively in Tennessee politics and civic organizations for more than 25 years.
MSU colleges awarding degree in the Friday night ceremony include the Bagley College of Engineering; a part of the College of Veterinary Medicine; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and its School of Human Sciences; College of Forest Resources; and College of Education.
Saturday's program will see degrees presented for the colleges of Arts and Sciences; Architecture, Art and Design; and Business, including its Adkerson School of Accountancy.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.