Dr. Geis will give the commencement address.
Louisiana Tech University awarded 358 degrees during its Winter 2024 Commencement Ceremony on a picture-perfect and joyful Saturday at the Thomas Assembly Center, expanding the Tech family to 113,816 students.
He returns to the latest of many ceremonies he has attended over the years, but the first to be installed as president emeritus was Dr. Les Guise, a 2014 graduate of Louisiana Tech University, 1976 and 1978. Ta.th The president will retire at the end of 2023.
At the beginning of his commencement address, Geis originally planned to offer advice to graduates on topics such as meeting challenges and overcoming adversity, much of which the students in attendance had already experienced on campus. I immediately pointed out that widespread hardships like the April 2019 tornadoes and the COVID-19 pandemic;
Instead, Geiss chose to recognize graduates who have faced these challenges and achieved success.
“You will accomplish a lot in your life, and you will fondly remember your time in the technology industry as one of the most transformative times,” Geis said. “I strongly believe that you will make a difference in our world and have a life-changing impact on many others.”
The ceremony was also Dr. Jim Henderson's first as president of Louisiana Tech University, and he emphasized to the Thomas Assembly Center crowd that inviting Geis to give the commencement address was an easy decision. .
“When I think of the words 'loyalty forever,' the first thing that comes to mind is a man who dedicated 45 years of his life to this institution,” Henderson said of Geis at the ceremony. “When I think of a character leader, those same people are the first people I think of.”
Also at the ceremony, Justin and Janet Hinckley were awarded the University's highest honor, the Tower Medallion. The Tower Medallion signifies membership in the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and is awarded to tech graduates who have made a difference through outstanding accomplishments, community service, and humanitarian work.
They both graduated from Tech in 1978. A Computer Science graduate, Justin was named Tech University's Alumnus of the Year in 2010. His wife Janet and her Jarel Hinckley graduated in English Education and were named the Faculty of Education's Distinguished Alumnus in 2016.
