Alex D. Huskey, Chairman of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, told 1,760 IWU graduates on December 17 that success should not be judged by how much attention or notoriety they receive.
"You don't hear about all of the successful people in the world because many of them are just doing what they do simply because they love it," Huskey said. "They do it because they know they are making life better for tomorrow."
Huskey also reminded graduates of the sacrifices that were made so they could get a college degree and said it now was their turn to help others.
"Don't forget to reach behind you and grab someone to bring them up to your level," he said. "All of you have somebody who is hanging in the balance, and all they need is someone to say, 'Succeed, succeed, succeed!"
Most of the graduates in both ceremonies earned their degrees through IWU adult education programs. Huskey received an IWU presidential citation in recognition of his service to his church, the Marion community and Indiana.
Huskey is a veteran public servant with 20 years of law enforcement experience, including 13 years as a member of the Marion Police Department.
In August of 2004, former Indiana Gov. Joseph E. Kernan appointed Huskey as the superintendent of the Indiana Excise Police. He was reappointed by current Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2005 and remained in that job until May of 2011 when he was named to his current position.
In addition to his full-time responsibilities in Indianapolis, Huskey has served since 2007 as the pastor of New Bethany Church of God in Christ. He served 20 years previously as the associate minister and assistant pastor of the church.