Southeastern’s commencement is slated to feature Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler as the guest speaker. The graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 12 at 10 a.m. in the University Center.
Schedler, who graduated from University of Louisiana in Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing in 1971, has been serving as Secretary of State since 2010. Since then, he has served on Slidell City Council as president and vice president, St. Tammany Municipal Association as president and Slidell Board of Zoning and Adjustment as chairman.  
In 1991, Schedler was honored as Slidell’s Citizen of the Year and Employer of the Year.
Being a part of several civic organizations in south Louisiana, Schedler represents a leader who has dedicated his life to Louisiana by serving as a state senator and as a member on the boards of the Lakeview Regional Hospital and the Whitney/Hancock National Bank.
Schedler said he was selected as a commencement speaker by Dr. John Crain, the President of Southeastern Louisiana University.
“I know Dr. Crain fairly well,” said Schedler. “I had a daughter graduate from there about two years ago. Another one graduated from there about eight years ago. I have a future son-in-law graduating at the one I’m going to be speaking at, and then I had another son-in-law graduate from their undergraduate and MBA. Dr. Crain and I used to work together. I used to be the state senator for St. Tammany/Tangipahoa Parish. I’ve just known him for a long time, and because of the affiliation with my daughters and son-in-laws, he thought I was an appropriate person to address the group, so I was very honored.”
At commencement, Schedler will be addressing the approximately 1,200 students graduating with masters, bachelors and doctorates. For many seniors, graduation means their last days in a classroom at Southeastern.
“One’s graduation is a very significant day in their life,” said Luke Holloway, a senior majoring in history and political science and president of the Student Government Association. “Having an elected official like Tom Schedler coming to speak to the graduates is a unique opportunity. I’m personally excited to hear him speak and challenge me and my fellow graduates as we continue our endeavors elsewhere.”
Of the 1,200 students graduating on Saturday, a wide variety of majors will be represented. The largest undergraduate degree in this year’s commencement is General Studies with more than 120 recipients.
“It’s somewhat indicative of the world we live in today,” said Schedler. “People are trying to multi-task and to not to be categorized in one area. In the working world, it’s tough enough right now with the job market, and I would think, in general, maybe people are, instead of boxing themselves into one career, maybe they want to be in a more versatile degree program for a perspective employer.”
As the semester comes to a close, all students are excited for the end of another year and the beginning of a new chapter in life. Schedler’s speech at commencement will reflect on a few keys elements that graduates should keep in mind as they journey into the working world.
“My speech is basically, aside from the normal things you do in a commencement speech, congratulating the folks on their success and enduring their college education, is [telling them] to be versatile, to be open to various careers, to be open to the changing direction of the wind so-to-speak,” said Schedler. “Overriding in that,  is to be the best at whatever you elect to do and do something that you enjoy.”
For more information on commencement, contact the Office of Records and Registration at 985-549-2066.
To learn more about Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler, visit www.sos.la.gov.