Harlan Kirgan
LSUE commencement speaker Mary Werner urged graduates to become engaged in life.
Werner, a member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, addressed about 100 graduates Friday. at LSU Eunice’s Health and Physical Education Center.
“I know you are ready to put away the books and put away the papers, but as you step into this next life ... we need you that come through LSUE to stand be the voice for higher education in our state,” she said.
Werner also urged the graduates to congratulate themselves on their achievement.
“We are here today to recognize and celebrate each one of you. Think of all the people who have helped you,” she said
“Don’t forget to stop and thank them today,” she said.
“Look for the opportunity to be that support that relief on and be that for someone else. Pay attention to our world, not just you own. It is so easy for us to become so consumed in our own lives, but we all need to pay attention to what is happening around us, in our communities, in our state and in this great nation we live in,” she said.
“Look for the opportunity to become involved. Speak and act on the issues important to you because there is no role too big or too small following your passion,” she said.
Werner noted she lost a race for a seat on the Public Service Commission last year. Her theme in the race was about education and technology.
“We learn our greatest lessons from our mistakes,” she said. “If you are perfect there isn’t much left to learn ...”
Werner ended with a quote from the late Steve Jobs of Apple fame: “Don’t let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice and most importantly have the courage to follow your heart and your intuition. They some how know what truly you want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Chancellor Kimberly Russell said the graduates should be proud of their achievement.
“Many of you in this room have overcome obstacles that at times seemed insurmountable. Some of you are married. Some have children. Some of you worked 40-plus hours a week while attending the university,” she said.
Werner is a director and vice president of The Sweet Lake Land & Oil Company and The North American Land Company, a news release from LSUE stated.
Werner grew up in Leesville, where she graduated from Leesville High School. She earned her bachelor of science in business administration at Brenau Women’s College in Georgia.
She is married to Joel W. Werner, and they are the parents of three children.