Louisiana Governor to address Southeastern’s commencement
Thursday, April 28, 2016 
by: Rene Abadie
HAMMOND - Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards will provide the keynote address at
Southeastern’s graduation ceremonies at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at the University
Center.
The university will confer approximately 1,100 degrees on students who are graduating
with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Edwards was elected the 56th governor of the state last year and assumed office
in January. A native of Amite, he served eight years as an Airborne Ranger with the
U.S. Army. While in the service, he commanded a rifle company in the 82nd Airborne
Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.
In 2008, he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives from District
72, representing parts of East Feliciana, St. Helena and Tangipahoa parishes and served
as a member of the Northshore Delegation, which includes districts that cover Southeastern.
A Democrat, he served as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and as minority leader
in the House of Representatives. Edwards served for eight years in the House until
the Louisiana voters elected him governor.
Edwards graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1988 and earned
his law degree from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, earning the honor Order of
the Coif, a scholastic society recognizing excellence in legal education. His civil
law practice is located in his hometown of Amite.
