NEWS

Chris Turner speaks at commencement.

Louisiana Tech University’s 240 summer graduates celebrated a significant milestone in their academic careers on Saturday, gathering at the Thomas Assembly Center for the quarter’s commencement ceremony. The summer batch of Bulldogs earning their degrees join 115,133 Louisiana Tech alumni worldwide.

Louisiana State Representative and Ruston businessman Christopher “Chris” Turner served as the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Turner, now in his sixth year representing Louisiana District 12, which includes Lincoln and Union Parishes, was born and raised in north Louisiana. He graduated from Oak Grove High School and earned his degree in business from Tech in 1999. He is the owner of two small businesses, Turner Rexall and Hillside Storage.

During his introduction, Tech President Jim Henderson pointed to Turner’s legislation that invests $1.6 billion in deferred maintenance on college campuses over the next 10 years as the most consequential piece of legislation for higher education since the 1894 bill that created Louisiana Tech.

Turner took to the podium to talk up the reputation of a Tech education and share what his experiences at the University taught him about serving.

“It’s here that I learned the value of contributing to my community,” Turner said. “Giving back, watching out for others, stepping up when no one else raises their hand, helping those who need a little grace. Whether it’s just on the street you live on, in the neighborhood where your house is, or the town or parish you live in, contribute.”

After reading through a humorous letter that a family friend had penned to then-President Dan Reneau during Turner’s time in school—a letter that gave Turner renewed motivation to finish his degree—Turner addressed the graduates with three final key pieces of advice:

“Get involved in your communities; you will always get back twice as much as you put in. Never close a door; opportunities will come knocking all the time if your door and your mind stay open. Relationships matter; we need each other to be our best.”

As he had during the 2024 spring ceremonies, President Henderson acknowledged that this event was the first commencement that nearly all the graduating students were experiencing in-person after many high school graduations in 2020 took place virtually.

The highlights of summer commencement included three 4.0 GPA graduates, the commissioning of two U.S. Air Force second lieutenants, and the presentation of seven doctoral degrees.