Political science became a passion for Jordan Long while he was a student at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Now, with his political science degree in hand, Long heads to Nashville and a staff position with Tennessee State Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) just ahead of the 2019 legislative session. Long joined other summer and fall graduates who received degrees during commencement Dec. 15 in the university’s Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Jim Tracy, UT Martin graduate and state director for USDA Rural Development, was commencement speaker.
“It’s very exciting. It’s a great time in my life,” Long said in an earlier interview about receiving his degree. “I’ve looked forward to this day. I’ve enjoyed my time here, though, greatly. UT Martin has been such a good school for me to attend.”
Long traces his interest in political science to family members who held elected office. In addition to political science classes that increased his academic knowledge, Long gained practical experience in government through involvement in the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature, also known as TISL.
The annual event in Nashville provides college students with real-world exposure to the workings of the Tennessee General Assembly. The proceedings include debates and lobbying for bills among delegates. Lieutenant governor was one of several elected positions he held through TISL, and Long is proud of the accomplishments and connections he gained through the organization.
Long also served as UT Martin’s Student Government Association president during the 2017-18 academic year. As with TISL, his SGA presidency helped him to gain leadership experiences and expand this professional network. “It was a great opportunity,” he said of being SGA president. “It was an interesting year. … It was a growing year in SGA’s life here at Martin.”
Life after college began immediately, as Long started his position with Sen. Stevens’ office Dec. 17, a role in which he will work with legislation and assist Stevens in his various committee roles. “It’ll be a learning curve for sure, but it will be an experience that very few people at this age get, and I’m appreciative of him for that,” Long said. Regardless of what lies ahead, Long is up to the challenges, thanks to lots of hard work and preparation. “I do not think there’s any other school that would have afforded me the opportunities that UT Martin has,” Long said.
As Long and others prepared to graduate Dec. 15, UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver welcomed the capacity Elam Center audience that included graduating students from 60 Tennessee counties, 19 states outside of Tennessee and the countries of Australia, China, India and Saudi Arabia. The university’s Office of Academic Records reported that 659 students were eligible to graduate, including those who completed degree requirements in the summer. A total of 375 graduates participated in commencement exercises.
Following a performance by members of the university’s Department of Music, Carver introduced speaker Jim Tracy, a West Tennessee native who served as a Tennessee state senator for the 14th Senatorial District from 2004-2017. He also has 24 years’ experience as a small-business owner and is a former high school agricultural education teacher.
Tracy, who lives in Shelbyville, challenged graduates to go beyond the milestone of earning a college degree and reach for greater things in life. He focused on the word “pride” and assigned a word to each letter to emphasize his points. Tracy spoke of potential, responsibility, influence, determination and enthusiasm as qualities that build pride in all a person does.
He said each graduate present has potential “whether you’re going to be a teacher, whether you’re going to be an engineer, whether you’re going to be a business owner, whether you’re going to go back on the family farm and be involved in agriculture, you have tremendous potential to be the very best you can.” He challenged graduates to tap into unrealized abilities and to become involved in public service, noting his own 23-plus years of public-service roles. “You’re the future of your community or wherever you decide to land,” he said.
Tracy said that responsibility includes “being accountable for your actions.” He added, “You’ve taken the responsibility this far to get your degree today. You’ve got your degree. Now take the responsibility to go forward into your life. Whatever that is in your life to do, take the responsibility to do that.” He then noted the importance of using influence properly. “All of you graduating today, you may not realize it … but you have a tremendous influence on people in your life,” he said. “Never forget that you have an influence on peoples’ lives, and use that influence.”
Tracy’s final points emphasized determination and enthusiasm. He advised graduates to set goals no matter the professions they pursue and stay determined to achieve those goals. He closed by noting that having enthusiasm is important to building pride. “Enthusiasm is catching. If you’re enthusiastic, you’re going to make people around you be enthusiastic. Find something you enjoy to do in this life. Be enthusiastic of what you’re doing, have pride in it, enjoy it, live for it, have excitement in what you’re doing.
“And if you have excitement in what you’re doing, your fellow workers are going to have excitement. You’re going to bring enthusiasm. You’re going to be a better employee. You’re going to be a better citizen. You’re going to be a better person. You’re going to influence people, so have enthusiasm for what you decide to do,” he said.
Award presentations and recognition of honors graduates followed Tracy’s keynote address. Dr. Linda Martin, University of Tennessee vice president for academic affairs and student success, then congratulated all graduates on behalf of the UT System and highlighted the accomplishments of several members of the graduating class. “We are extraordinarily proud of your accomplishments and your attainment of this significant milestone,” she said to all graduates.
The recognition of graduates by Carver included the awarding of a posthumous degree in psychology to the family of Megan Cox. Cox, a senior from Camden, died Nov. 15 in a traffic accident. A standing ovation by the Elam Center audience honored the family and her accomplishments and memory.
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Additional photos from the Dec. 15 commencement ceremony can be viewed below.
