Raising Cane’s Founder Todd Graves Speaks, 717 Receive Degrees at LSU’s 272nd Commencement Exercises
Raising Cane’s Founder Todd Graves delivered the commencement address, and 717 students received degrees at LSU’s 272nd commencement exercises on Friday, Aug. 6.
Graves, Raising Cane’s chairman, CEO, fry cook and cashier, addressed the graduates during the summer commencement ceremony. In 14 short years, Graves has grown Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers from a single restaurant near the north gates of LSU to more than 90 locations in 14 states. Raising Cane’s now ranks as of one of the fastest growing privately-owned companies in the United States.
“For a person who bleeds purple and gold, this is a very special moment for me,” said Graves, who was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year regional winner in the Consumer Products division in 2008. “This is a great moment in my life. I think you can get a lot out of this because this is a student story – this is an LSU story – and I’d like to take you through some of the things I’ve learned along the way.”
Graves told the class about how only 16 years ago, he was sitting in the same spot they are today. He reminisced about growing up in Baton Rouge and visiting the LSU campus, especially the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to see Tiger greats like Shaquille O’Neal play and to attend concerts by top ‘80’s bands like REM and Guns and Roses. But mostly he focused on the exciting adventure that awaits each of the graduates.
“You’re the class of 2010. That’s a monumental year,” he said. “You are the class of the future – you are our future – and to top that, you’re graduating on LSU’s 150th anniversary. It really is a special time for you to be graduating.”
Graves provided the graduating class with five key lessons that have been important to his personal success and the success of Raising Cane’s:
- Find your one love.
- Don’t take “no” for an answer. Ever.
- Be authentic.
- Treat people well.
- Give back to your community.
Graves told the graduating class that their last free meal was on him, and when they picked up their diplomas, they received a voucher for a free “box” at Raising Cane’s.
“Congratulations to all of you. Savor this moment; you’ve worked hard for it,” Graves said. “So to you, the class of 2010 – the class of the future – you’ve got your degree, now go get your one love.”
This year marks LSU’s 150th, or sesquicentennial, anniversary. To mark this momentous occasion, LSU planned several sesquicentennial flourishes for the 2010 graduates. Each graduate received a commemorative diploma reminiscent of the eight diplomas issued at the university’s first commencement ceremony in 1869. The masthead and verbiage of the original diploma were preserved in this commemorative edition.
LSU also provided hospitality for graduates and guests. Members of the LSU Staff Senate were on hand to provide directions and to answer questions for guests.
Of the 717 graduates, 260 earned master’s degrees and 65 received doctorate degrees. Sixteen students graduated with honors, including Rachel Wise of Baton Rouge, who received the University Medal for graduating with the highest undergraduate grade-point average. Clayton L. Allen of Baton Rouge graduated from the LSU Honors College with the Upper Division Honors Distinction for completing the upper-division honors program.
LSU Chancellor Michael V. Martin presided over the ceremony, and Robert Yarborough, member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, conferred degrees. Kevin L. Cope, LSU Faculty Senate president, served as mace bearer. The invocation was given by Father Than N. Vu, pastor of Christ the King Church and Catholic Center, and the benediction by Vicar General, diocese of Baton Rouge. The “Star-Spangled Banner” and LSU alma mater was performed by musical arts Ph.D. candidate Joseph Christopher Turner, and the processional and recessional music was performed by the LSU Faculty Brass Quintet.
The August 2010 graduating class represents 43 Louisiana parishes, 35 U.S. states and 37 foreign countries. Women made up 50.35 percent of the graduates and men made up 49.65 percent. The oldest graduate is 63 and two graduates were the youngest at 20.
During the ceremony, Capt. Michael C. Shaw, assistant professor of military science, recognized LSU’s newly commissioned Army ROTC cadets, Christopher Entzminger of Columbia, S.C., and Jean-Claude Jubert of Gretna. The two were commissioned during a special ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 5.
Two honorary degrees were given during the summer commencement exercises. The honorary degrees were conferred upon Mose Allison, for an extraordinary and distinguished career as a jazz musician and songwriter, and Frank W. Harrison Jr., for a long-standing distinguished record of service to his community, family, profession, the state of Louisiana and LSU.
A complete list of graduates and honor graduates will be available online at LSU’s commencement website. This site can be accessed through LSU’s home page at www.lsu.edu or directly at http://www.lsu.edu/commencement.
Ernie Ballard | Editor | Office of Communications & University Relations
August 2010
