FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2017, 4:00 p.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402.872.2429
Peru, Nebraska - Pete Ricketts, governor of Nebraska, gave the commencement address at Peru State College
to a crowd of more than 2700 graduates, family members, faculty and staff. The major
theme of his speech was finding your passion.
You might not know what your passion is today, Ricketts assured, before describing
his own journey to find his passion in business and politics.
Governor Ricketts speaking to the 2017 graduates of Peru State College.
To find that passion, Ricketts said, “Be curious. Explore ideas. Then you can find
your passion. When you find it, pursue it.”
Adding to his advice, Ricketts said, “When you take a long term approach to relationships,
not just transactional; if you treat people with dignity and respect; if you’re a
person of integrity; that will be valuable no matter what you do.”
“Risk, perseverance, resiliency are all things that you have to have to be successful.
Ricketts also provided an anecdote about Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson. Douglas
won because he could clearly identify his passion and why he was fighting.
Ending the inspirational address, Ricketts asked, “Ask yourself ‘what is your why?”
President Dan Hanson, flanked by Nebraska State College System Chancellor, Stan Carpenter (left), and Governor Pete Ricketts (right), leading the recessional.
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