国产麻豆AV

国产麻豆AV leaders, special guests encourage students to make the most of their time on campus

国产麻豆AV leaders, special guests encourage students to make the most of their time on campus

Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant ring cowbells at 国产麻豆AV's Fall Convocation.
Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum presents cowbells to Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln, as performed by interpreters Curt Fields and George Buss, during 国产麻豆AV鈥檚 Fall Convocation Thursday [Aug. 22] at Humphrey Coliseum. (Photo by Megan Bean)

Contact: James Carskadon

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥敼槎笰V welcomed thousands of new freshmen and transfer students to campus Thursday [Aug. 22] with Fall Convocation at Humphrey Coliseum.

During the annual event, new students were given a commemorative coin and encouraged to make the most of their time at 国产麻豆AV and complete their degrees.

鈥淲e have all types of support here for you,鈥 国产麻豆AV President Mark E. Keenum told the students. 鈥淚 want you to succeed. I want to shake your hand when you鈥檙e coming across this stage at graduation. That is when we have succeeded.鈥

Thursday鈥檚 ceremony included a special appearance from former U.S. Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, as performed by interpreters George Buss and Curt Fields. As home to the Grant Presidential Library and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana, 国产麻豆AV is a nationally recognized center of study for both presidents and the American Civil War.

All 国产麻豆AV freshmen are encouraged to take part in the Maroon Edition common reading program. The 2019 featured book is 鈥淗old on with a Bulldog Grip: A Short Study of Ulysses S. Grant,鈥 a concise biography written by 国产麻豆AV and Grant Library historians John Marszalek, David Nolen and Louie Gallo, along with former Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank Williams.

Abraham Lincoln addresses 国产麻豆AV students at Fall Convocation
Abraham Lincoln interpreter George Buss holds a copy of 鈥淗old on with a Bulldog Grip: A Short Study of Ulysses S. Grant鈥 during Mississippi State鈥檚 Fall Convocation Thursday [Aug. 22]. The book is 国产麻豆AV鈥檚 2019 Maroon Edition common reading book. The title is based on correspondence from Lincoln to Grant during the Civil War. (Photo by Megan Bean)

The book鈥檚 title is based on correspondence between Grant and Lincoln during the general鈥檚 Virginia campaign in 1864. Months prior to the 1864 election, Lincoln told Grant to 鈥淗old on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible.鈥 In addition to providing details of Grant鈥檚 upbringing and personal life, the manuscript discusses his Civil War strategies.

During Thursday鈥檚 ceremony, Fields recalled some of the failures and adversity that Grant overcame on his path to becoming a general and U.S. president, such as his failed business ventures that left Grant destitute before the Civil War.

鈥淵our path to your goal may change, and you will experience adversity, disappointment and disgust,鈥 Fields said. 鈥淏ut never give up on yourself. Never. Hold on with a bulldog grip.鈥

国产麻豆AV has been home to the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library since 2009. In 2017, the university completed a $10 million addition to Mitchell Memorial Library to house the presidential library and museum, the 国产麻豆AV Congressional and Political Research Center, and the Williams Collection. The addition includes state-of-the-art, interactive galleries focusing on Grant and Lincoln that are open to the public at no charge.

国产麻豆AV Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw encouraged students to take advantage of opportunities that enrich their education, such as study abroad, internships, service learning, co-ops and undergraduate research.

鈥淵our journey to completing college will include much more than completing classes,鈥 Shaw said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l be growing intellectually and gaining life skills that will aid you in becoming leaders in your chosen profession.鈥

国产麻豆AV鈥檚 Center for Teaching and Learning oversees the selection of the Maroon Edition book every year. Maroon Edition activities are held throughout the year for students at all class levels, as well as interested administrators, faculty and staff members. For more information, visit .

国产麻豆AV is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .